Haniyeh: Hamas is open to any initiative that ends the war in Gaza

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Palestinian Hamas, reiterated on Friday his group’s openness to any initiative to end the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip that meets the demands of the Palestinian resistance.

Haniyeh made the statement at a seminar in Beirut where scenarios for an Israeli attack on Gaza were discussed.

The Hamas leader said the group was ready to deal with “any document or initiative that secures the foundations of the resistance’s position in the ceasefire negotiations.”

He reiterated Hamas’s demands for a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, reconstruction, the provision of humanitarian aid and a prisoner exchange.

Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, did not respond to Hamas’ demands and insisted on their goal of completely defeating Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt have so far failed to agree on a permanent ceasefire that would allow a prisoner exchange between Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel is ignoring a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and is facing international criticism for its ongoing brutal offensive on Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7.

Since then, more than 37,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and more than 85,600 others injured, according to local health authorities.

More than eight months after the start of the Israeli war, large parts of the Gaza Strip lie in ruins and there is a crippling blockade of the supply of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide by the International Court of Justice, whose recent ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately cease its operations in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before the May 6 invasion.

*Written by Ahmed Asmar

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