Hamas open to Gaza ceasefire, urges Trump to pressure Israel

A senior Hamas official stated on Friday that the group is open to a ceasefire in Gaza if a mutually respected proposal is presented.

Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim emphasized the need for the ceasefire to be honored by Israel and urged U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to exert pressure on Israel to end the ongoing conflict.

Hamas requests U.S. mediation for Gaza ceasefire

Naim called on the U.S. administration to push for a halt to the hostilities. “We have informed the mediators that we support any proposal leading to a definitive ceasefire and a withdrawal of military forces from Gaza,” Naim said, outlining Hamas’s conditions, which include the return of displaced residents, a prisoner exchange agreement, and the entry of humanitarian aid.

Trump’s Middle East promises and ongoing diplomacy

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to achieve peace in the Middle East and pledged strong support for Israel. Naim noted that while Hamas is willing to consider any political solution, the current dynamics make a swift resolution challenging.

Qatar, a key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, announced it had paused its efforts due to a lack of progress. The Gulf state, which has hosted Hamas’ political leadership since 2012, expressed frustration over the lack of “seriousness” from both sides.

Casualties and impact of the conflict

According to the United Nations, which relies on data from Gaza’s health ministry, the ongoing conflict has led to 43,764 fatalities in Gaza, with most victims reported as civilians.

The war began following a Hamas-led attack on Israel in October last year, which resulted in 1,206 deaths, primarily civilians, based on Israeli official figures.