Hamas is studying a proposed ceasefire deal that would include prolonged pauses in fighting in Gaza and the swapping of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the group’s senior leaders have said.
Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ top political leader, and Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official in Beirut, said the group remains committed to its initial demands for a permanent ceasefire.
Mr Hamdan also said the group seeks the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners being held for acts related to the conflict with Israel, including those serving life sentences.
The insistence on large-scale prisoner releases and on an end to the fighting in Gaza puts the group at odds with the multi-stage proposal officials from Egypt, Israel, Qatar and the United States put forth this week, which does not include a permanent ceasefire.
Mr Haniyeh said in a statement that negotiations must “completely end” the Israeli offensive in Gaza and bring the withdrawal of Israeli forces – demands Israel has rejected.
“There is no way that this will be acceptable by the resistance,” Mr Hamdan told Lebanon’s LBC TV, referring to proposed successive pauses in fighting.
Israeli leaders have repeatedly said they keep fighting until Hamas is crushed, even while agreeing to long pauses accompanied by the release of hostages.
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