Hamas Open to ‘All Ideas’ Ahead of Cairo Truce Talks

A senior Hamas official confirmed that the group is open to discussing any proposals that could lead to a resolution of the conflict in Gaza, including Israel’s withdrawal, the return of displaced people, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a potential prisoner exchange. However, the official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the issue, stated that Hamas has not yet received any new offers.

This announcement came as representatives of Hamas arrived in Cairo for talks regarding a possible ceasefire in Gaza. These discussions follow a ceasefire agreement brokered between Israel and Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, which took effect on Wednesday. The United States, in collaboration with Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, has been working on a diplomatic initiative to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages taken during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which marked the beginning of the ongoing conflict.

The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and led to Israel’s retaliatory military operations in Gaza, which have claimed over 44,000 lives according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Among those captured during the attack, around 97 hostages remain in Gaza, with 34 believed to have died. A ceasefire in November 2023 saw a partial exchange of hostages and prisoners between the two sides. However, previous attempts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a lasting ceasefire and further hostage releases have so far been unsuccessful.