Hamas Calls for Premanent End to War, Rejects Temporary Truce

Hamas has turned down Israel's proposal for a temporary ceasefire, demanding a comprehensive deal to end the Gaza war, free all Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and rebuild the besieged area, a senior official said on Tuesday. Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas' Gaza chief and chief negotiator, said the group will no longer accept interim measures, accusing Israel of taking advantage of interim ceasefires to lengthen the military operation.

During a televised speech, Al-Hayya stated that Hamas is prepared to have "immediate negotiations" for the swap of all remaining Israeli hostages for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel as part of a larger deal that includes a permanent end to the war and rebuilding Gaza. Al-Hayya accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of preferring "extermination and starvation" over resolving the hostage issue.

That position complicates the attempts by Egyptian mediators to achieve a potential reconvening of the January ceasefire that has collapsed since last month. Israel has also offered a 45-day truce to release hostages and start talks about the postwar phase but Hamas rejected demands to disarm. "Netanyahu’s conditions are impossible," Al-Hayya said, in reference to Israel's demands that Gaza be demilitarized.

Israel resumed military action beginning in March when Hamas declined to extend the truce without a war-ending agreement. Officials say they will continue until all 59 remaining hostages are freed and Gaza is deprived of any capability for military use, and left defenseless. Gaza ministry centers said Israeli air strikes since the war began have killed over 50,900 Palestinians, and described recent strikes as escalating humanitarian catastrophes.