Palestinian resistance group leader reaffirms commitment to cease-fire initiatives

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

Haniyeh made the statement during a seminar in Beirut discussing scenarios of the Israeli onslaught against Gaza. The Hamas leader said the group is willing to engage with “any document or initiative that ensures the foundations of the resistance’s position in the cease-fire negotiations.”

He reiterated Hamas’ demands for a permanent cease-fire, a full Israeli army withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction, the provision of relief and a prisoner swap.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have not committed to any of Hamas’ demands, insisting on continuing their goal of totally defeating Hamas in Gaza.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, have so far failed to agree on a permanent cease-fire that would allow a prisoner swap between Israelis and Palestinians.

Flouting a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

More than 37,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began, most of them women and children, with over 85,600 others injured, according to local health authorities.

More than eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.