FILE – Hamas terrorists stand in formation ahead of a ceremony to hand over Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, February 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana, File)
|Published April 3, 2025
Hamas is prepared to release all remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, according to a senior Palestinian official familiar with truce talks. Despite Israel’s rejection, Hamas is also open to releasing some hostages under a temporary ceasefire if there are guarantees that Israel will negotiate an end to the war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to engage in such negotiations. Hamas insists on the original January deal, which included a second phase where all hostages would be freed in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
While Netanyahu initially agreed to the deal, he now opposes these terms, arguing they would allow Hamas to stay in power. As a result, Israel resumed military operations on March 18, leading to over 1,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Smoke billows on the horizon, east of the Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip, following an Israeli strike on April 2, 2025. (Eyad BABA
IMPLICATIONS
The implications of this situation are significant for both the war in Gaza and broader geopolitical dynamics:
1. Potential End to the War – If Israel were to accept Hamas’s offer, it could lead to a complete ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, Israel’s reluctance suggests the war may continue indefinitely.
2. Hostage Release vs. Israeli Strategy – Hamas is offering a full hostage release as leverage for an end to the war. Israel, under Netanyahu, has prioritized eliminating Hamas over negotiating, which could prolong hostages’ captivity.
3. Political Pressure on Israel – Domestic and international pressure on Netanyahu may increase, as families of hostages and foreign governments push for negotiations. However, Netanyahu’s political survival depends on maintaining a hardline stance.
4. Hamas’s Position Strengthened? – If Israel agrees to Hamas’s terms, it could be seen as a victory for Hamas, solidifying its control over Gaza. This is one reason why Israel is resistant to a deal.
5. Humanitarian Consequences – With continued military operations, Palestinian casualties will keep rising, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. A prolonged war could also fuel regional instability.
6. International Diplomacy Shifts – The U.S. and other mediators may push harder for a compromise, but Israel’s refusal to negotiate a permanent ceasefire could strain relations with allies advocating for de-escalation.
Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, calling for a deal to free the hostages near the Knesset in Jerusalem, March 31, 2025.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
OVERALL TAKEAWAY
The overall takeaway is that Hamas is willing to release all hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, but Israel, under Netanyahu, refuses to negotiate an end to the war, prioritizing the destruction of Hamas. This deadlock means continued military operations, more Palestinian casualties, and prolonged suffering for the hostages and their families. The situation also has major political and diplomatic consequences, with growing international pressure on Israel and increasing humanitarian concerns. Without a breakthrough, the war is likely to persist, deepening instability in the region.
SOURCES: THE TIMES OF ISRAEL – Hamas ready to free all hostages at once for end to war — Palestinian official
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