GAZA - Hamas said Monday evening that it is reviewing Israel's new Gaza ceasefire proposal delivered by Egypt and Qatar, while Palestinian sources said the prospect of achieving any tangible breakthrough is slim as differences remain between Hamas and Israel.
Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel reported, quoting high-ranking Egyptian sources, that Egypt and Qatar have delivered the Israeli proposal to Hamas and are awaiting its response as soon as possible.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an informed source of Hamas told Xinhua that the proposal included a 45-day temporary ceasefire, during which Hamas would release half of the Israeli hostages it holds.
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The source said the Hamas delegation, headed by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, expressed surprise at the inclusion of a clause related to the movement's disarmament, which it categorically rejected.
"Disarmament is not on the table and will not be discussed, now or in the future," the source said, adding that any agreement must begin with "a cessation of the Israeli aggression and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip."
According to the source, Hamas informed the mediators that it was prepared to release nine Israeli hostages in an initial phase, but only under the condition of a comprehensive halt to hostilities, a demand that Israel has not accepted.
On Sunday, the Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo at the invitation of Egyptian officials to participate in the talks.
Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 11 reported that Israel is ready to compromise on specific issues but will not accept any agreement that undermines its war objectives.
According to the channel, an Israeli official said that Israel will not abandon its position on restricting Hamas's military capabilities and ensuring that any truce leads toward a process of disarmament.
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According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation Kan, Israel proposed, via mediators, the release of hostages, including American citizen Edan Alexander, in return for US guarantees to proceed with the next phase of ceasefire discussions.
The Israeli proposal also includes a 45-day pause in fighting, the entry of conditional humanitarian aid, and the redeployment of Israeli forces to positions held before March 2.
Despite ongoing mediation by Egypt and Qatar, sources close to Hamas said "significant gaps" remain between the parties. Efforts by Egypt and Qatar to bridge the divide between Hamas and Israel continue, but no clear path to a truce has yet emerged, according to a source of Hamas.
In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate amid continued military operations. Security sources in Gaza said that Israeli airstrikes targeted several areas across Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis.
Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, announced that its fighters engaged in an armed clash with Israeli forces east of the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, claiming to have inflicted casualties.
While the Israeli army did not issue an official statement on the incident, Hebrew media reported that two Israeli soldiers were seriously injured and evacuated by helicopter for treatment.
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However, civilians in Gaza continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. Nader Abdul Karim, a displaced resident from Gaza City now living in a UNRWA shelter in Deir al-Balah, told Xinhua, "We had hoped this round of talks would result in a truce, but our hopes are fading."
"Every day, we fear becoming part of the rising death toll," he lamented.
Salha Abu Rahmi, a displaced woman from Beit Hanoun, said, "The negotiations are happening far from us, and every time they fail, we face more bombing. We are the ones paying the price."
In Khan Younis, resident Oday Abu Zeid echoed similar concerns. "If this war does not end soon, more families will be wiped out. Every failed round of talks means more suffering," he said.
