Hamas rejects proposal to give up power in Gaza in exchange for permanent ceasefire, Egyptian sources say
- Insiders say both Hamas and Islamic Jihad refused to offer any concessions beyond the possible release of more hostages seized in the October 7 attack
- The ‘vision’ proposed by Egypt and backed by Qatar involved a long-term end in hostilities along with an overhaul of leadership in Gaza
Hamas and the allied Islamic Jihad have rejected an Egyptian proposal that they relinquish power in the Gaza Strip in return for a permanent ceasefire, two Egyptian security sources said on Monday.
Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, later denied in a statement what the sources said about the talks, adding: “There can be no negotiations without a complete stop to the aggression.”
“The Hamas leadership is aiming with all its might for a complete, not temporary, end to the aggression and massacres of our people,” he said, referring to the more than 20,000 Palestinians killed during the 11-week war with Israel.
The Egyptian sources said that both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which have been holding separate talks with Egyptian mediators in Cairo, had rejected offering any concessions beyond the possible release of more hostages seized on October 7 when militants broke into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people.
Egypt proposed a “vision” rather than a concrete plan, also backed by Qatari mediators, that would involve a ceasefire in exchange for the release of more hostages, and lead to a broader agreement involving a permanent ceasefire along with an overhaul of leadership in Gaza, which is currently led by Hamas.
Egypt proposed elections while offering assurances to Hamas that its members would not be chased or prosecuted, but the Islamist group rejected any concessions other than hostage releases, the sources said.