Egypt Today                                                        April 16, 2025

   In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) affirmed that it is studying, with great national responsibility, the proposal it received from the mediators and will submit its response as soon as possible, once the necessary consultations are completed.

   Hamas added that it reiterated “its firm position that any future agreement must achieve a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, a genuine prisoner exchange deal, the beginning of a serious process to rebuild what the occupation has destroyed, and the lifting of the unjust siege on our people in the Gaza Strip.”

   Palestinian sources told Al Arabyia Net that the mediators have told Hamas that Israel conditioned- in the new proposal- the disarmament of Hamas for ceasing fire in Gaza. The network cited a leader from Hamas saying that the movement is ready to hand over all Israeli hostages at once for a ceasefire and withdrwal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

   A delegation from Hamas, led by the movement’s chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, traveled to Cairo on Saturday for talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in pursuit of a ceasefire in Gaza.

   The meeting comes while Egypt has unveiled a recent proposal to restore calm in Gaza, which will allow residents “to catch their breath” and facilitate a captive-prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel.

   The proposal aims to restore calm in Gaza and allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty said in recent TV remarks. He stated that the proposal has been communicated to all involved parties and affirmed that discussions are ongoing to seek its acceptance.

   However, the proposal that has been submitted to Hamas today was sent by Israel to the mediators.

   Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli war in Gaza has killed nearly 51,000 people, primarily women and children, and injured 116,450 others.