Hamas expresses readiness for a Gaza deal while keeping conditions
On the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack that sparked the Gaza war, the militant group signaled a willingness to reach a deal to end the fighting, saying it could be based on the plan associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Yet Hamas also reiterated non-negotiable demands, underscoring the fragile and conditional path to any ceasefire in Gaza.
In Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel continued under the mediation of Qatar and senior U.S. representatives. A U.S. team led by special envoy Steve Witte (note: ensure spelling accuracy in real reporting) and former White House adviser Jared Kushner traveled to the talks, signaling continued U.S. involvement in the diplomacy surrounding Gaza. While optimism has grown at times, officials cautioned that progress remains contingent on a number of political and security issues.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani joined the discussions with the aim of advancing a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release framework. The talks unfolded as pressures mounted on all sides to end more than two years of war, which has devastated Gaza and caused a mounting civilian toll.
Hamas sets out its conditions for any deal
Hamas’ senior official quoted by state media emphasized that the movement’s delegation in Egypt seeks to overcome obstacles and secure an agreement that sufficiently addresses Gaza’s aspirations. The group insisted on several core conditions: an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, guarantees against a repetition of violence, a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, and the immediate start of a reconstruction process supervised by a Palestinian technocratic authority.
Fawzi Barhoum, a senior Hamas official, highlighted these prerequisites while noting that implementation would require robust guarantees. The Palestinian umbrella of factions reiterated a stance of resistance by all means, insisting that no external party could authorize ceding weapons held by the Palestinian people. Israel, meanwhile, has long demanded disarmament of Hamas as a precondition to any long-term settlement and has resisted any governance role for Hamas in Gaza’s rebuilding.
What happens next in the negotiations
Analysts caution that even if negotiators reach a breakthrough, substantial questions will persist about who governs Gaza after a ceasefire and how reconstruction will be financed and overseen. Some observers say Washington’s approach has been to push for a halt to fighting and a practical plan for freeing hostages and Palestinian prisoners, while leaving broader governance issues to later stages of negotiations.
International attention remains fixed on Sharm el-Sheikh as mediators work to translate a fragile truce into a lasting framework. The presence of Turkey’s intelligence leadership and other regional actors underscored the multinational effort to stabilize the situation, though the path ahead remains uncertain.
Public sentiment and the human cost
Two years of conflict have left deep scars on both sides. In Israel, communities that suffered traumatic losses marked the anniversary, with families recounting the personal losses suffered on what was a day of unprecedented violence. In Gaza, civilians describe a humanitarian crisis intensified by ongoing bombardments and a blockade that has limited access to essential services and aid. The international community continues to weigh humanitarian responses against the political realities of ending the conflict.
Observers note that even a potential deal would require careful diplomacy to prevent a security vacuum that could enable renewed hostilities. The prospects for a comprehensive settlement depend not only on immediate ceasefire commitments and hostage arrangements but also on longer-term governance and reconstruction arrangements that can satisfy both Israeli security concerns and Palestinian political aspirations.
Key questions for readers
- Will Hamas accept a deal that guarantees Israeli withdrawal and a Palestinian-led reconstruction framework?
- Can a ceasefire be sustained without broader political accommodations and international guarantees?
- How will hostage and prisoner exchanges be operationalized in any deal?
