Hamas has rejected Israel’s proposed 45-day truce in Gaza, insisting on a comprehensive deal to end the war, release all 59 remaining hostages, free Palestinian prisoners, and rebuild Gaza.
The latest Cairo talks on April 14, 2025, ended without a breakthrough, escalating tensions as Israeli strikes killed 32 Palestinians on April 17, 2025, according to local health authorities.
In a televised speech, Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’s Gaza chief and lead negotiator, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using partial agreements to prolong the conflict. “Netanyahu’s agenda sacrifices hostages for a war of extermination,” Hayya said, rejecting Israel’s “impossible conditions,” including Hamas disarming. He emphasised Hamas’s readiness for “comprehensive package negotiations” to resolve the crisis.
⚡️BREAKING: Highlights of the speech of Hamas leader Dr. Khalil al-Hayya, head of the negotiating delegation and head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip:
The leadership of Hamas and the resistance factions were keen to halt the barbaric aggression and war of genocide against the Gaza… pic.twitter.com/NCCXUeYE9p
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) April 17, 2025The January 19, 2025, ceasefire, which saw Hamas release 38 hostages, collapsed in March when Israel resumed its offensive after Hamas refused to extend the truce without a permanent end to the war. Egyptian mediators have struggled to revive the agreement, with both sides trading blame for the impasse.
Israel’s Position and Ongoing Strikes
Israel insists its military campaign will continue until all hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarised. The National Security Council’s James Hewitt stated, “Hamas’s comments show they prioritise violence over peace. The Trump Administration’s terms remain: release the hostages or face consequences.”
Hamas rejects Israel's latest ceasefire proposal, calls for comprehensive deal
➡️ https://t.co/pwEAIJBnri pic.twitter.com/owajBvXTOE
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) April 18, 2025On April 15, 2025, Hamas reported losing contact with militants holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old New Jersey native and Israeli soldier, after an Israeli strike on their hideout. A subsequent Hamas video warned hostages’ families of dire consequences from Israeli attacks. On April 17, Israeli strikes killed 32 Palestinians, including six at a UN-run school in Jabalia, which Israel claimed was a Hamas command centre.
#BREAKING: Hamas rejects interim truce deals, and says hostages can be released if Israeli government agrees to end war, withdraw completely from Gaza and allow for reconstruction of Gaza to begin pic.twitter.com/hzEWj1Un5o
— TRT World (@trtworld) April 17, 2025The war began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, per Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel’s offensive has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, displacing millions and devastating infrastructure. The ongoing violence underscores the urgency of a resolution, yet both sides remain entrenched.
Read: Video Evidence Contradicts Israel’s Claim in Gaza Medics’ Deaths
Hamas’s rejection of interim truces and Israel’s insistence on military objectives signal a prolonged conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt. The failure of Cairo talks highlights the challenges of mediation, as Egyptian efforts falter amid mutual distrust. The fate of hostages, including Alexander, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza hang in the balance as international pressure mounts for a lasting solution.
