The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas announced on Thursday that any ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip must include a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the besieged territory.
In a statement issued following the resumption of truce negotiations in Doha on Thursday, Hossam Badran, a senior Hamas leader, said: “Any agreement must lead to a comprehensive ceasefire, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced persons, reconstruction, in addition to a prisoner exchange agreement.”
Badran, who is a member of Hamas’s political bureau, added that “the obstacle to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza is Israeli intransigence.”
These statements come at a time when diplomatic efforts continue to end the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has led to heavy loss of life and widespread destruction of infrastructure in the territory.
Hamas’s position appears to set strict conditions for any potential agreement, which may further complicate the ongoing negotiations. At the same time, there has been no immediate response from the Israeli side to these statements.
All eyes remain on Doha, where negotiations are taking place, awaiting any new developments that could lead to a breakthrough in the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
This stance by Hamas underscores the complexity of reaching a ceasefire agreement, as it ties any potential truce to significant concessions from Israel. The demand for a complete withdrawal and the return of displaced persons highlights the depth of the humanitarian concerns in Gaza, while also reflecting Hamas’s strategic objectives in the negotiations.
As the international community continues to push for a resolution to the conflict, these conditions set by Hamas are likely to be a key point of contention in the ongoing talks. The coming days may prove crucial in determining whether a compromise can be reached that addresses both the immediate need for a ceasefire and the longer-term issues raised by Hamas.