Hamas Official Demands Guarantees for Lasting Gaza Ceasefire

Hamas senior official Khalil al-Hayya has declared the Palestinian group's requirement for verifiable international guarantees to secure a permanent cessation of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. In an interview with Egypt's Al-Qahera News, al-Hayya stated that Hamas maintains full readiness to implement US President Donald Trump's proposed agreement but demands assurances against Israeli violations.

Al-Hayya affirmed Hamas's acceptance of Trump's 20-point proposal, which includes releasing Israeli captives in exchange for specified Palestinian prisoners, provided Israel completely withdraws from Gaza and ends hostilities permanently. However, he noted that Israeli forces have continued lethal operations and obstructed humanitarian aid, particularly in northern Gaza, since Hamas announced its approval of the framework, undermining trust in the process.

The Hamas leader referenced Israel's previous violation of the November 2023 ceasefire agreement as justification for demanding enforceable guarantees. "Israel has never honored its promises throughout history," al-Hayya stated, emphasizing that his organization "does not trust it for even a single moment" without concrete mechanisms to ensure compliance from the Israeli government and military.

Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israeli delegations continued for a second day in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, focusing on implementing Trump's September 29 proposal that also includes Hamas disarmament and Gaza reconstruction. Al-Hayya stressed that any agreement must ultimately serve Palestinian aspirations for statehood, self-determination, and regional stability, concluding that "the war must end forever" for Palestinians to achieve normal living conditions.