Camilla Jessen
Hamas has reportedly offered to hand over its heavy weaponry in indirect negotiations with Israel.
Hamas has offered to give up its medium- and long-range rockets as part of indirect talks with Israel aimed at reaching a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages, according to a report by Israeli TV channel i24News.
The report, citing Arab sources familiar with the discussions, says Hamas is ready to place those weapons under Egyptian control.
The militant group has also offered to stop recruiting and training new fighters, as well as end the construction of smuggling tunnels in the Gaza Strip.
However, Hamas wants to keep other types of weapons, such as sniper rifles, explosive devices, and short-range rockets.
Egypt is said to be passing the proposal along to Israeli officials.
According to Kurier, the talks are being mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, but negotiations have reached a standstill due to disagreements on key issues.
Israel recently offered a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages. Hamas, however, has insisted that it will only agree to a permanent end to the war, not just a temporary pause.
Israeli authorities say that 24 hostages are still alive in Gaza, along with the bodies of 35 others who were abducted during Hamas’s deadly attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing conflict.
The last ceasefire collapsed in mid-March when both sides failed to agree on the next steps.
Since then, Israeli forces have resumed major military operations in Gaza. Last week, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned of more intense fighting if talks don’t move forward soon.