Hamas has not received a proposal for a two-month cease-fire in Gaza via mediators, a media officer for the Palestinian resistance group told Anadolu.
This follows reports from the US-based Axios news website, quoting Israeli officials who claimed that Israel had offered Hamas a proposal via Qatari and Egyptian mediators. The alleged proposal included a potential two-month pause in the fighting as part of a multi-phase deal, which would also involve the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza.
Walid Kilani, the media spokesperson for Hamas in Lebanon, who spoke to Anadolu, confirmed that the offer was seen on various media platforms but emphasised that it has not been received officially by Hamas.
He reiterated that Hamas’s primary condition is a full and comprehensive cease-fire, rejecting the idea of a temporary one. Kilani suggested that if this condition is met, discussions could be initiated regarding the phased exchange of prisoners.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas involves Israel’s claim that Hamas is holding 136 Israelis in Gaza since October 7.
In response, Hamas demands a cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for releasing Israelis in its custody.
The ongoing hostilities have led to relentless air and ground attacks by Israel on the Gaza Strip, with Tel Aviv reporting 1,200 casualties since a cross-border attack by Hamas. Palestinian health authorities report at least 25,295 Palestinians killed, predominantly women and children, and 63,000 injured.
The consequences of the Israeli onslaught are dire, with 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced, facing acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Furthermore, 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, as reported by the UN.
The situation remains complex, with the involved parties holding different positions on cease-fire conditions and the release of prisoners, contributing to ongoing tensions in the region.
