Hamas rejected Egyptian proposal to disarm, under deal to end war

Qatar’s Al Jazeera network reports, citing a senior Hamas official, that Egypt presented a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza to a Hamas delegation in recent days. The proposal included the release of half of the 59 hostages still in Gaza during the first week of a ceasefire, which would last a total of 45 days, with the remaining hostages — both living and dead — to be handed over on the 45th day.

It was further reported that the Egyptians told Hamas there would be no agreement to end the war without negotiations on disarming Hamas, and that this point was clearly included in the proposal. According to the source, Hamas responded that the issue of disarmament is not up for discussion at all, and that they would only enter into any agreement on the basis of ending the war, not on disarmament.

In recent hours, Arabic media outlets reported that the Hamas delegation, which had been in Cairo since Friday as part of the ceasefire negotiations, has left Egypt.