Hamas proposes prisoner exchange as step toward permanent ceasefire

Hamas has declared its willingness to exchange all remaining Israeli hostages at once for Palestinian prisoners as part of the second phase of the ongoing Gaza truce.

The group asserts that this exchange would serve as a crucial step toward achieving a “permanent ceasefire” and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave.

As Hamas pushes for its longstanding demands, Israel remains firm in its stated war objective of eliminating Hamas as both a governing and military power in Gaza.

The militant group, designated a terrorist organization by the US and many other countries, continues to resist calls for disarmament and expulsion from the region.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim reaffirmed on Telegram that the group will neither relinquish its presence in Gaza nor agree to disarmament.

He emphasized that any future arrangements for the territory must be determined through national consensus. Qasim dismissed Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hamas as “silly psychological warfare.”

READ ALSO: All hell is going to break loose – Trump warns Hamas

On Monday, Qasim indicated that Hamas is prepared to relinquish governing control in Gaza if it aligns with the interests of its residents.

The group also announced an accelerated release of six hostages, set for Saturday, in response to requests from mediators, shortening the originally planned timeline of two weeks.

The truce between Israel and Hamas, negotiated through US-backed talks and mediated by Qatar and Egypt, took effect in January after months of conflict. However, the current ceasefire framework is set to expire in early March, raising concerns about renewed hostilities.

Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed that discussions aimed at extending the six-week truce and securing the release of all remaining hostages will commence in the coming days.

The negotiations are expected to be pivotal in determining the next phase of the conflict and the potential for lasting peace in the region.