The Palestinian movement Hamas has reiterated its willingness to enter into a comprehensive deal with Israel to end the war in Gaza and release all hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
On the other hand, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office dismissed Hamas’ statement as a “spin” from the Palestinian movement, according to Reuters.
Hamas Ready for Deal
On Wednesday, Hamas said it was ready to enter into a comprehensive deal that would free all the living hostages in return for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners.
This deal would “ensure an end to the war, the full withdrawal of Israeli military troops from Gaza, the opening of border crossings to deliver all the Gaza Strip’s necessities, and the beginning of the reconstruction process,” it said in a statement.
Moreover, the Palestinian movement said it was open to the formation of an “independent national administration of technocrats” to run Gaza.
Trump’s Message to Hamas
Hamas statement came in response to the US President Donald Trump’s latest warning to the group, calling on them to release all the remaining hostages to bring the war to an end.
“Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Israel’s Response
Commenting on Hamas’ statement, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed the remarks and vowed to move ahead with plans to occupy Gaza City if the Palestinian movement did not accept Israel’s conditions to end the war.
“Unfortunately, this is yet another spin by Hamas with nothing new in it,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
It added that the war could end immediately if Hamas accepted Israel’s conditions: “The release of all hostages; the disarmament of Hamas; the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip; Israel gaining security control in Gaza; and the establishment of an alternative civilian administration that does not indoctrinate for terror, does not dispatch terror, and does not threaten Israel.”
Invading Gaza City
Echoing Netanyahu’s office statement, the Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, warned Hamas to accept Israel’s conditions or see Gaza City “become like Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” according to the Times of Israel. He also accused Hamas of continuing to “deceive and utter empty words.”
Israel is pressing ahead with plans to expand its war on Gaza, conquering Gaza City – the Strip’s largest city. In the light of this, the Israeli military is intensifying its air and ground operations on the outskirts of the city. It has also called up around 60,000 reservists for the expanded operations, facing domestic and international condemnation.
Gaza Ceasefire Deal
In mid-August, Hamas accepted a new ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar, involving a 60-day truce during which a number of Palestinian prisoners would be freed in return for half of the remaining Israeli hostages.
It also included the redeployment of Israeli troops to areas near the border to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Discussions for a comprehensive deal or a permanent ceasefire would start on day one of the truce.
Despite being almost identical to a previous proposal by the US Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, which Tel Aviv had accepted, Israel has not responded to the latest ceasefire proposal. Days later, Israel said it would not accept phased deals, insisting on a comprehensive agreement on its term.
