As negotiations over a Gaza truce reach an uncertain impasse, Hamas' armed wing spokesperson, Abu Obeida, announced a bold proposal: the group stands ready to release all hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. This offer comes after more than 10 days of talks led by Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, on a U.S.-supported plan for a 60-day pause in hostilities.
\"If an interim truce can't be agreed upon, we may return to insisting on a full package deal,\" said Obeida, blaming Israel for violating past ceasefire terms and resuming its offensive over the past four months. He warned that Hamas is prepared for a protracted confrontation, focusing on high-impact operations against Israeli forces and capturing soldiers.
The current draft deal envisions the staged release of 10 live hostages and the return of 18 bodies from Gaza over 60 days, in exchange for the release of detained Palestinians in Israel. Yet, Israeli officials maintain that Hamas has not reciprocated Israel's efforts, leaving key disputes unresolved over troop withdrawals, aid corridors, and guarantees for an end to the conflict.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to mount. Gaza health authorities report more than 58,600 Palestinian deaths, while the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns of mounting fuel shortages, displacement orders in northern Gaza, and alarming levels of malnutrition among patients and children. Only 7 out of 13 aid coordination attempts with Israeli authorities have succeeded, hampering critical deliveries of fuel, generators, and medical supplies.
As these discussions hang in the balance, the world watches closely. Will negotiators find a pathway out of this cycle of violence? And can a deal that swaps captives for peace bridge the deep divides that have fueled this conflict? For young global citizens tracking the human, political, and strategic dimensions of this crisis, the coming days could prove decisive.
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Hamas offers to release all hostages under comprehensive truce deal
cgtn.com
