A senior Hamas official, Bassem Naim, announced on Friday that the group is prepared to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, provided Israel adheres to the terms.
Naim called on US President-elect Donald Trump to use his influence to pressure Israel to end the ongoing war.
“Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected by Israel,” Naim said during an interview with AFP.
He outlined Hamas’s key conditions for the ceasefire: a complete military withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced residents, a prisoner exchange deal, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the reconstruction of the territory. Naim emphasized that Hamas remains committed to any serious proposals meeting these terms.
“We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression,” he added.
The call for a ceasefire comes after Qatar announced it was suspending its mediation role, citing a lack of “seriousness” from both Hamas and Israel in negotiations.
The Gulf state, a longstanding mediator in the conflict, has hosted Hamas’s political leadership since 2012 with the backing of the United States.
The conflict, which escalated after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 last year, has resulted in devastating casualties on both sides.
Official figures from Israel indicate that 1,206 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the initial attack. Meanwhile, retaliatory strikes by Israel have claimed the lives of 43,764 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the United Nations deems reliable.
On the campaign trail, President-elect Trump vowed to pursue peace in the Middle East but also pledged stronger support for Israel. Whether his administration will engage in mediation remains uncertain as tensions persist in the region.
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