Tue Apr 15 04:05:23 UTC 2025: ## Hamas Rejects Israeli Ceasefire Proposal, Calls Disarmament Demand ‘Unacceptable’
**Cairo, Egypt** – Negotiations to end the escalating conflict in Gaza appear stalled after Hamas vehemently rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal. The Israeli proposal, relayed to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Monday, offers a 45-day temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of 11 Israeli hostages held in Gaza. However, the proposal also demands Hamas disarm, a condition that Hamas has unequivocally denounced as a “million red lines.”
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri stated that the disarmament demand is unacceptable and that resistance will continue as long as the Israeli occupation persists. He described the Israeli request as a “daydream” and unattainable. Hamas insists that Israel must commit to ending the war and withdrawing its forces from Gaza before any discussion of releasing the hostages. They have offered to hand over all remaining captives in a single exchange.
Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh highlighted the significant obstacle presented by Israel’s publicly stated plan to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza. Odeh notes that this plan makes the prospect of Hamas disarmament extremely unlikely.
The death toll in Gaza continues to climb, with the Ministry of Health reporting at least 50,983 confirmed deaths and over 116,000 injuries. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and the blockade imposed on Gaza has led to widespread suffering and starvation. Israel’s renewed offensive, which began on March 18th, following a previous ceasefire agreement, has already claimed over 1,500 Palestinian lives according to Gaza health authorities.
Monday’s talks in Cairo concluded without any apparent progress towards a permanent ceasefire, leaving the future of the conflict uncertain.
First Piper 