Hamas announced Friday that it had proposed a comprehensive five-year ceasefire agreement to Israel, including the release of all hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the lifting of the blockade — a plan the group says was rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. The proposal, described by senior Hamas official Abdel Rahman Shadid as a "serious and responsible vision," called for an immediate and permanent end to hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, and the establishment of an independent administrative committee to govern the enclave. "The extremist Netanyahu government rejected Hamas' proposal, insisting on fragmenting the issues and refusing to commit to ending the war — even at the expense of Israeli captives still held in Gaza," Shadid said in a statement published on Hamas' official platforms. Hamas claimed it had conveyed its willingness to engage constructively with mediators, provided that any deal includes a permanent cessation of hostilities. The group also accused the United States and its allies of complicity in what it described as "massacres, genocide, and starvation warfare" in Gaza. According to Israeli estimates, 59 captives remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, more than 9,500 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, with human rights organizations reporting widespread abuse, including torture and medical neglect. Since Israel's military campaign in Gaza began in October 2023, over 52,400 Palestinians — the majority women and children — have been killed, according to Gaza's health authorities. Israel faces mounting international legal pressure, including arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court in November against Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes. The country is also being tried at the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide in its ongoing war on Gaza. — Agencies
