Negotiations aimed at halting the ongoing conflict in Gaza have reached a critical juncture as Hamas said on Monday it is studying Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal, but warned that any demand for the Palestinian group to disarm is non-negotiable and “crosses a million red lines.”
The Israeli offer, submitted through Egyptian and Qatari mediators, includes a temporary 45-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 11 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in the besieged enclave.
However, the proposal also includes a controversial demand for Hamas to begin disarmament — a condition the group immediately rejected.
In a statement released late Monday, Hamas confirmed it was “reviewing” the proposal and would respond “as soon as possible.”
Speaking to Al Jazeera prior to the official response, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri categorically dismissed the demand to disarm, describing it as unacceptable and detached from the reality on the ground.
“The request to disarm Hamas is not even acceptable to hear. This is not just a red line, it is a million red lines,” said Abu Zuhri. “Everyone should understand that this is a dream – daydreaming. It cannot be achieved.”
The group maintains that resistance will continue as long as Israeli occupation persists. Hamas has countered by calling for a permanent end to hostilities and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. In exchange, it has offered to release all remaining captives “in one batch.”
Talks held in Cairo on Monday concluded without tangible progress towards a permanent ceasefire. Mediators are said to be facing increasing difficulty as both sides hold firm to their core demands.
Marwan Odeh, a political analyst based in Ramallah, said the current proposal fails to address the broader political context. “While Palestinians are listening to Israel talking about ethnically cleansing the enclave of its Palestinian population, forming a department in the Ministry of Defence to achieve that goal, it is difficult to see any Palestinian group talking about laying down arms in the absence of any political horizon,” he said.
He added that disarmament cannot be discussed “without talking about an end to the war.”
Israel had broken a previous ceasefire on March 18, which was part of a deal struck in late January. Since then, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 50,983 Palestinians have been killed and 116,274 wounded since Israel’s military campaign began. More than 1,500 people have reportedly been killed since the truce was broken last month.
Humanitarian conditions in the territory have worsened significantly, with a renewed Israeli blockade pushing the population towards famine and displacement. Hundreds of thousands have once again been forced from their homes as the war rages on.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli government on Hamas’s preliminary reaction. However, officials have repeatedly insisted that any future arrangement in Gaza must include the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities.
