Hamas has signaled to Arab mediators its willingness to enter into a long-term truce with Israel — one that would halt military operations, including the development of weapons and construction of tunnels — as part of a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, according to reports. The proposal, conveyed last week, marks the most far-reaching position publicly attributed to Hamas since the start of the war in Gaza. The terms, as relayed to The Times of Israel by a senior Palestinian official and an Arab diplomat involved in the mediation, include a multi-year truce lasting five, 10, or even 15 years, contingent upon a broader deal to end the war. Under the proposal, Hamas said it is willing to relinquish governing control of the Gaza Strip in favor of an independent technocratic authority — a framework that aligns with Egyptian plans for Gaza’s postwar administration. Furthermore, some Hamas representatives have indicated readiness to place the group’s weapons under guard in a secure warehouse, a gesture meant to reinforce its commitment to ending military activity against Israel. The suggested framework also includes the release of all remaining Israeli hostages in a single phase, in exchange for the release of a negotiated number of Palestinian prisoners. The deal would additionally stipulate a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the reopening of border crossings for humanitarian aid, and the launch of reconstruction efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, however, dismissed the proposal over the weekend, reiterating his government’s stance that the war will not end until Hamas is fully dismantled. Netanyahu said that even the release of all remaining hostages — currently at 59 — would not justify leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. “The only way to ensure long-term security for Israel is to eliminate Hamas’s military and governing capabilities,” Netanyahu said. Some of Netanyahu’s political opponents have argued that the release of hostages should take precedence, even if it means postponing the goal of toppling Hamas. But the prime minister has maintained that any agreement including binding international guarantees would prevent Israel from resuming military operations, effectively cementing Hamas’s control in Gaza — a scenario he has repeatedly vowed to prevent. This is not the first time ceasefire terms have faltered. In January, Netanyahu approved a phased ceasefire that facilitated the release of 33 hostages in the first stage. Negotiations for the second phase, which included a permanent ceasefire and full withdrawal of Israeli forces, were expected to begin soon after — but Israel declined to move forward on those terms, seeking instead another interim deal that allowed room to resume military action. The current U.S. administration, under President Trump, has supported Israel’s efforts to renegotiate the terms of the ceasefire, but Hamas has refused proposals that do not include permanent guarantees. Talks collapsed in early March, prompting Israel to resume large-scale military operations across Gaza on March 18. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)