Hamas Insists on Complete Israeli Withdrawal from Gaza in Any Ceasefire Deal

Doha, The Gulf Observer: The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has declared that any ceasefire agreement in Gaza must include the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory. Hossam Badran, a senior Hamas official, stated in a recent statement that any agreement “must achieve a comprehensive ceasefire, a complete (Israeli) withdrawal from Gaza, (and) the return of the displaced.”

This statement came as truce negotiations resumed in Doha, Qatar, with mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt meeting with an Israeli delegation. These talks occur against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli military campaign, which has now extended to ten months and resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians.

A Palestinian official has indicated that while Hamas will not directly participate in the current round of talks, its senior officials, residing in Qatar, are prepared to consider proposals from the mediators, as they have done in previous discussions.

The mediators have reportedly been working for months on a potential three-phase plan. This plan involves the release of hostages captured by Hamas during the October 7 raid in exchange for a lasting ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinians detained by Israel.

A ceasefire in Gaza is seen as a critical step toward reducing regional tensions, with the potential to dissuade Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah from retaliatory actions against Israel. These tensions have been exacerbated by recent Israeli strikes, including the assassination of a top Hezbollah commander and the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, a leading Hamas political figure, in an explosion in Tehran.

The international community continues to watch the situation closely, as the outcome of these talks could significantly impact the broader Middle East region.