The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, confirmed it had received a new ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal from mediators. The group reiterated its firm position: no proposal will be accepted unless it includes a complete end to the war on Gaza and a full withdrawal of the Israeli occupation.
A senior Hamas official revealed that Egypt had passed on a new initiative that explicitly includes a clause demanding the disarmament of the Palestinian resistance, alongside a temporary 45-day truce.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, the unnamed official explained that the Cairo-brokered proposal includes:
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- Release of half of the Israeli captives in the first week of the agreement
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- A 45-day temporary truce in exchange for humanitarian aid, food, and shelter access to Gaza
However, the Hamas delegation was surprised by the inclusion of a clear clause demanding the disarmament of the resistance factions.
The official stated:
“Egypt informed us that no ceasefire agreement will be reached unless negotiations over the disarmament of resistance groups take place.”
Hamas, in turn, firmly rejected this demand.
“We made it clear to Egypt: the gateway to any agreement must be a ceasefire and withdrawal—not disarmament. The resistance’s weapons are a legitimate right of our people and are non-negotiable,” the source added.
The proposal reportedly requires Hamas to hand over both living and deceased captives at the end of the 45-day truce as a condition to extend the ceasefire and allow further aid into Gaza.
In an official statement posted on its channels, Hamas affirmed that it is reviewing the proposal “with high national responsibility” and will respond as soon as internal consultations are completed.
The statement reaffirmed the movement’s unchanging demands for any future agreement:
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- A permanent ceasefire
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- Full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza
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- A real and just prisoner exchange deal
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- Serious reconstruction efforts for Gaza
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- An end to the unjust blockade imposed on the Palestinian people in Gaza
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Cairo News Channel reported that Cairo had delivered “an Israeli proposal” to Hamas for a temporary ceasefire and the launch of negotiations that could lead to a permanent one. However, the channel did not provide details or respond to Hamas’ public objections reported by Al Jazeera.
Hamas spokesperson and political advisor Tahar Al-Nounou stated on Monday that the movement is ready to release all Israeli captives—but only in exchange for a full ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The negotiating delegation, led by Hamas Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya, held several meetings on Sunday in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari officials working to bridge the gap between Hamas and the occupation in hopes of reaching a deal to end the war.
“We are fully prepared to release all Israeli captives as part of a serious prisoner exchange deal—if Israel agrees to ceasefire, withdraw from Gaza, and allow humanitarian aid to flow,” Al-Nounou told AFP.
He accused the Israeli regime of stalling and obstructing progress, adding:
“The problem isn’t the number of prisoners. The issue is Israel’s refusal to honour its commitments, its sabotage of ceasefire implementation, and its continuation of aggression.”
Al-Nounou stressed that Hamas had dealt with the negotiations “positively and with great flexibility”, showing sincere intent to reach a solution.
However, he added that Israel wants to retrieve its captives without committing to the second stage of the process, which includes a permanent ceasefire and complete military withdrawal from Gaza.
Quoting an informed source, AFP reported that Hamas’ negotiating team “concluded its meetings with Egyptian and Qatari officials in Cairo without making real progress.”
Al-Nounou concluded firmly:
“The resistance’s weapons are a red line. This is not up for negotiation. The existence of these arms is directly linked to the continued presence of the occupation.”
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