Sat Apr 26 22:41:00 UTC 2025: ## Hamas Offers Five-Year Truce in Gaza Conflict Amidst Rising Casualties
**Cairo, Egypt –** Hamas has proposed a five-year truce to end the 18-month conflict in Gaza, contingent on the release of all hostages and a comprehensive agreement, a senior Hamas official revealed on Saturday. This offer follows the rejection of a previous Israeli proposal for a shorter ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict has seen devastating consequences. Israeli airstrikes on Saturday killed at least 35 Palestinians, including 10 members of one family in Gaza City. The UN warns that food and medical supplies are critically low in Gaza, with aid agencies reporting the imminent depletion of food stocks. A senior UN official described the situation as a slow death for Gazans.
Hamas insists any truce must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a permanent end to hostilities, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid. While Hamas is ready for a prisoner exchange, it rejects Israel’s demand for disarmament. Israel, in turn, demands the return of all hostages and continues its military campaign, claiming to have targeted 1,800 “terror” sites since March 18th.
The current crisis follows a previous ceasefire brokered by Qatar, the US, and Egypt in January, which collapsed due to disagreements over its terms. Since the resumption of hostilities, over 2,111 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, bringing the total death toll to over 51,000, primarily civilians. On the Israeli side, the October 2023 Hamas attack resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, along with the abduction of 251 people, 58 of whom remain held hostage in Gaza.
The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides entrenched in their positions, leaving the prospects for a lasting peace uncertain.
First Piper 