Hamas categorically rejects one of the main Israeli requests. “We are open to any serious proposals to end the war”

Hamas is open to an armistice with Israel in the Gaza Strip, but is not willing to deposit the weapons, an official said on Saturday, while the leaders of the Palestinian organization met with the Cairo mediators for ceasing fire, Reuters reports.

Sources close to the discussions have told Reuters that Hamas hopes to obtain the support of mediators for his offer, mentioning that the organization could agree with a five to seven years armistice.

“The idea of ​​an armistice or duration is not rejected by us and we are ready to discuss it in the negotiations. We are open to any serious proposals to end the war,” said Taher Alono, the media counselor of the Hamas management, in the first clear signal that the group is open to a longer armistice.

On the other hand, Nono rejected a fundamental Israeli application, the submission of weapons by Hamas. Israel wants a demilitarized gas strip.

“The resistance weapon is not negotiable and will remain in our hands as long as the occupation exists,” said the media counselor of the Hamas management.

The founding charter of Hamas appeals to the destruction of Israel, but the organization has pointed out in the past that it could accept a long -term armistice if the Israeli occupation is over.

The deputy of the Israeli Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel has minimized the chances of making progress based on the new proposal if the main requirements of Israel are not met.

“The war could end tomorrow if Hamas would free the 59 remaining hostages and submit the weapons,” the deputy minister Haskel said on Tuesday in Jerusalem.

Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, saying that it will maintain the pressure until the last hostages left in the enclave will be released. It is believed that up to 24 of them are still alive.

Israel blocked the entry of aid into Gaza, and hundreds of thousands of people were relocated, because the Israeli forces occupied various areas of the enclave. Since then, over 2,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to the health authorities.

The war was triggered by the attack launched by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which the Palestinian organization killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, over 51,400 Palestinians died in the offensive by Israel, according to local health officials.