Hamas open to long-term truce without disarming
Gaza – Saba:
Tahir Al-Nono, the media advisor to the presidency of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Saturday that the movement is open to a long-term truce with Israel in Gaza but is not prepared to lay down its arms.
This comes as Hamas leaders meet with mediators in Cairo for talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement.
Sources close to the negotiations stated that Hamas hopes to rally mediator support for its proposal, adding that the movement may agree to a truce lasting between five to seven years in exchange for ending the war, allowing Gaza's reconstruction, releasing Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and freeing all detainees in its custody.
In the first clear indication of Hamas' openness to a long-term truce, Al-Nono said, "The idea of a truce or its duration is not rejected by us. We are ready to discuss it within the framework of negotiations and are open to any serious proposals to end the war."*
However, he ruled out Hamas' acceptance of a key Israeli demand—disarming the movement. Al-Nono stated that "the weapons of resistance" are non-negotiable and will remain in their hands as long as the "occupation" persists, according to news agencies.
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