International

Hamas Seeks Ceasefire Deal, Calls On Trump To Act

Published

5 hours ago

Nov 15, 2024.

Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim announced on Friday that the group is willing to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, provided Israel adheres to specific terms.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that in an interview with AFP, Naim outlined Hamas’s conditions and called on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to use his influence to pressure Israel to end the ongoing conflict.

“Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected by Israel,” Naim stated.

He detailed the group’s demands, including a complete military withdrawal from Gaza, the return of displaced residents, a prisoner exchange deal, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the reconstruction of the territory.

The announcement follows Qatar’s decision to suspend its mediation efforts, citing a lack of “seriousness” from both Hamas and Israel in negotiations. Qatar, a key mediator in the conflict since 2012, has long supported Hamas’s political leadership, with backing from the United States.

The ongoing conflict escalated dramatically after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in devastating casualties. Official Israeli figures report 1,206 deaths, mostly civilians, during the initial attack.

Retaliatory airstrikes by Israel have led to the deaths of 43,764 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. These figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Naim urged the incoming U.S. administration to take decisive action. “We call on the U.S. administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression,” he said.

President-elect Trump had previously pledged to pursue peace in the Middle East while reinforcing U.S. support for Israel. Whether his administration will engage in mediation remains uncertain as tensions in the region persist.