Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya called on Tuesday for real guarantees to ensure an end to Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.
“We confirm our full readiness to reach an agreement to end the war, withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza and release all Israeli prisoners – both dead and alive – in exchange for the Palestinian prisoners mentioned in (US President Donald) Trump’s plan,” al-Hayya told Egyptian state-run Al-Qahera News.
“However, the Israeli occupation has continued to kill and block aid, especially in northern Gaza, since we announced our approval of the Trump plan,” he added.
The Hamas leader stressed that Israel violated the first ceasefire agreement in November 2023 and resumed the war.
“Israel has never fulfilled its promises throughout history,” he said.
“We have tested the occupation and we do not trust it for a moment,” al-Haja said, calling for “real guarantees” from the international community, President Trump and the countries sponsoring the talks.
He stressed that Hamas is seeking to achieve “the goals and aspirations of the Palestinian people for stability, freedom, statehood and self-determination.”
“The war must end forever so that our Palestinian people can live in stability like other peoples in the region.”
Hamas and Israel held a second day of indirect talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange as part of Trump’s Gaza plan.
Trump presented a 20-point proposal on September 29 that includes the release of all Israeli prisoners in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza. Hamas has agreed in principle to the plan.
The Israeli military has killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave almost uninhabitable and led to mass displacement, famine, and the spread of disease.
