Hamas delegation will enter into indirect ceasefire talks with Israel
Hamas will send a delegation for indirect talks with Israel regarding a renewal of the ceasefire in Qatar, according to a Hamas official.
Reported by AP News on April 14th, the Palestinian militant group has been discussing terms of a new ceasefire agreement in Cairo, including proposing to free eight to ten hostages held in Gaza. Qatar will provide another format in which to discuss the terms of an agreement.
However, a major condition of a ceasefire for Hamas remains over the proposed end of the war, with the current Israeli government seemingly adamant to continue their military offensives in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas and Israel had originally agreed a ceasefire in January 2025 which subsequently collapsed eight weeks later. Whilst the ceasefire was intended to bring the two sides of the conflict to the table to discuss the de-escalation of the conflict, the renewed Israeli military action has led to some of the darkest days in Gaza since the war began on October 7th, 2023.
Netanyahu’s government has declared that the onslaught will continue until Hamas are eradicated, an ambition many believe to be an impossible task but, in the meantime, the war can act as a political lifeline for Netanyahu.
Since the collapse of the ceasefire, Israel has blocked aid from entering Gaza and forces have seized swathes of Palestinian territory in a move they claim will pressure Hamas into making concessions.
More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive according to Gaza’s health ministry with more than half being women and children.
The restarting of the war has also brought thousands of Palestinians to chant anti-war protests against Hamas at the beginning of April in the biggest show of anger at the militant group since the beginning of the war.
According to AP News, protestors were ‘venting anger and desperation as they endure a new round of war and displacement,’ in an extremely rare case of public dissent against the militant group who have been in power since 2007.
“The protest was not about politics. It was about people’s lives,” said Mohammed Abu Saker, a father of three from the bombed-out town of Beit Hanoun who joined a demonstration. “We can’t stop Israel from killing us, but we can press Hamas to give concessions.”
Whilst Hamas face pressure both internally and externally, their role in the ceasefire talks is pivotal and the suggestion of renewed ceasefire discussions in Qatar could offer hope to the millions of Palestinians who continue to suffer from Israeli military bombardment.
However, the future role of Hamas in Gazan leadership remains a vital question. Maghrebi recently reported that France has suggested it will recognize Palestinian statehood at an international conference in June in an unexpected departure from existing European policy.
France will co-chair the conference in New York alongside Saudi Arabia, with Macron believing he can “finalise this movement of mutual recognition (of a Palestinian state) by several parties.”
However, The New Arab reported that Macron’s recognition would be conditional on the reform of the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank-based political body which, currently, has limited political reach in the Gaza Strip.
Macron said, “It is essential to set a framework for the day after: disarm and sideline Hamas, define credible governance and reform the Palestinian Authority,” which he hopes will facilitate a two-state solution.
However, questions remain regarding the feasibility of reforming the Palestinian Authority and the ability for the Ramallah-based group to take legitimate charge of the Gaza Strip. In the meantime, Hamas remain the dominant political and military player in the Strip and instrumental for the renewal of a ceasefire.
AP News, Maghrebi, The New Arab
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