In a major development that could reshape the Gaza conflict, Hamas has announced it is ready to release all remaining Israeli hostages—but only in exchange for a complete end to the war and the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official and key negotiator, delivered a televised address declaring the group’s new position: no more interim truces. Instead, Hamas is pushing for a comprehensive deal that includes a permanent ceasefire, a full hostage exchange, and the reconstruction of war-torn Gaza.
This hardline stance comes as hopes for a renewed ceasefire dwindle. Egyptian mediators have been trying to revive a January agreement that briefly paused hostilities but collapsed in March. While Israel has offered a temporary 45-day truce, Hamas rejected it, accusing Israel of using short-term deals to prolong the conflict and pursue its own political goals.
“Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements as a cover to continue their war of extermination and starvation,” Hayya said, directly criticizing the Israeli Prime Minister. “We will not participate in that policy.”
The latest negotiations in Cairo this week ended without any breakthroughs. Hamas remains firm that hostages will only be freed as part of a total end to the war, rejecting Israel’s demands to lay down arms.
Meanwhile, violence continues to escalate. On Thursday alone, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 32 Palestinians, including women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. A UN-run school in Jabalia was also hit, killing six and injuring several others. Israel claims it targeted a Hamas command center.
The war, which began after Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has now resulted in over 51,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials. During the initial attack, 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 hostages were taken, triggering the military campaign.
So far, Hamas has released 38 hostages during a previous ceasefire. Israeli officials say 59 remain in captivity and insist that military operations will continue until all hostages are freed and Hamas is dismantled.
The situation is growing more dire. The Hamas military wing recently warned that hostages could die in future Israeli raids, after claiming they lost contact with a group holding Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander due to an IDF airstrike.
While the international community pushes for peace, neither side seems willing to compromise. With both Hamas and Israel sticking to hardline positions, a resolution remains out of reach—at the cost of more innocent lives.
