Hamas and Islamic Jihad reject indefinite ceasefire proposal

Two officials from Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations soon denied the information from these two sources.

“No negotiations will take place without a clause to end hostilities,” added Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau.

Referring to the more than 20,000 Palestinians killed in the 11-week war, he said: “The Hamas leadership is working with all its might towards a complete, not temporary, end to the war and the massacre of our people.”

A senior Islamic Jihad official with knowledge of the discussions with Cairo asked to remain anonymous and backed al-Rishq's denial.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad – which have held separate talks with negotiators in Cairo – have refused to accept any concessions beyond the release of hostages seized during Hamas’ October 7 cross-border attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people, Egyptian sources said.

Egypt has proposed a “possible” rather than a concrete plan, backed by Qatari negotiators, that would see a ceasefire in exchange for the release of more hostages, leading to a broader deal that would see an indefinite ceasefire and a shake-up of the Hamas-run Gaza leadership.

Egypt has offered to hold a vote and promised that Hamas members will not be expelled or prosecuted, but the Islamist group has refused to make concessions beyond the release of hostages. More than 100 hostages are believed to be still being held in Gaza.

A Hamas official who recently visited Cairo declined to comment on specific proposals for further humanitarian ceasefires and affirmed the group's opposition by reiterating its official position.

“We have also insisted (to Egyptian officials) that relief supplies for our people must continue to be provided and improved. They must be delivered to our compatriots in both the north and the south.”

“Once the hostilities are over and relief supplies are increased, we will be ready to discuss prisoner exchanges.”

Islamic Jihad

The Islamic Jihad, an organization that is also holding several hostages in Gaza, has also endorsed this view.

A delegation of Islamic Jihad led by Ziad al-Nakhala is in Cairo to discuss prisoner swaps and other issues with Egyptian officials. However, an official said the group has made an end to Israel's military campaign a precondition for further negotiations.

The official said Islamic Jihad insisted that any prisoner swap deal must be based on the principle of “all for all,” meaning the release of all hostages held by Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza in exchange for the freedom of all Palestinians held in Israel.

In addition, Islamic Jihad official Ali Abu Shaheen from Lebanon told Reuters: “The movement reaffirms its position that the acts of aggression against the Palestinian people must end and the movement does not support temporary truces.”

Mr Abu Shaheen confirmed that Egyptian officials had put forward some ideas, but did not give details.

“Our brothers from Egypt have presented many documents, about common ideas and guidelines for the agreements. We will consider these ideas within the movement’s leadership and consult with other Palestinian factions to reach a final conclusion.”

Before the war broke out, more than 5,250 Palestinians were held in Israeli prisons, but according to the Palestinian Prisoners' Association, that number has risen to more than 10,000 after Israel arrested thousands more from the West Bank and Gaza since October 7.

Gaza witnessed one of the bloodiest nights of the 11-week war overnight into Monday morning. Palestinian health officials said at least 70 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.

Nguyen Quang Minh (Reuters)

Source