Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Palestinian group Hamas, has reiterated his organization’s willingness to consider any initiative that ends the Israeli war on Gaza as long as it meets the demands of the Palestinian resistance. Haniyeh made the statement during a seminar in Beirut that discussed scenarios of the Israeli onslaught against Gaza.
Hamas has demanded a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli army withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction, relief, and a prisoner swap. However, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have refused to commit to these demands and continue to push for the total defeat of Hamas in Gaza.
Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt have so far failed to agree on a permanent ceasefire that includes a prisoner swap. The UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, but Israel has ignored it and continued its brutal offensive on Gaza.
The war has resulted in the deaths of over 37,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and more than 85,600 others injured. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with vast tracts of the territory lying in ruins due to a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.