Hamas Seeks Real Guarantees for Lasting Ceasefire

CAIRO (Dispatches) -- 
Negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza entered their third day on Wednesday in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where key regional and international actors have been involved in efforts to halt Israeli atrocities. 
Despite significant obstacles, including disagreements over the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of high-profile Palestinian prisoners, the talks are marked by cautious optimism, particularly from Hamas, which has expressed a constructive approach amid the difficult circumstances.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi described the atmosphere in Sharm el-Sheikh as “very encouraging,” noting the arrival of delegations from Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and the United States. 
The negotiations bring together influential figures such as Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, Turkish and Egyptian intelligence chiefs, and U.S. representatives including envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. 
The Israeli delegation is led by so-called strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer. Egyptian officials emphasized their commitment to intensifying efforts to create the necessary conditions for a durable ceasefire.
Central to the negotiations is the question of prisoner exchanges, which Hamas has approached with a sense of responsibility and pragmatism. 
According to Taher al-Nono, a senior Hamas official, the two sides have already exchanged lists of prisoners, following agreed-upon standards and numbers. 
Discussions are focused on ending hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, and the specifics of the prisoner swap. Nono highlighted an “optimistic spirit” among all parties involved, reflecting a shared desire to reach an agreement that ends the Israeli genocide. 
Hamas’s demands include the release of long-imprisoned Palestinian leaders such as Fatah’s Marwan Barghouti, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s Secretary-General Ahmad Saadat, and senior figures within Hamas’s own ranks, including Abbas al-Sayed and engineer Abdullah Barghouti. 
The movement has also requested the return of the bodies of Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and his brother Muhammad. These demands represent not only humanitarian concerns but also the recognition of these prisoners’ symbolic and political importance to Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Trump’s 20-point proposal calls for the release of all Israeli captives within 72 hours, followed by the freeing of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, alongside approximately 1,700 Palestinians detained since the war escalated in October 2023. Israel reportedly resists fully accepting Hamas’s list, though Turkish mediation has sought to prevent Israel from vetoing any names.
The issue of Israeli military occupation of Gaza remains a major sticking point. Israel has refused to withdraw its forces from the enclave, despite the ceasefire talks. 
The Trump plan envisions an eventual Israeli withdrawal but allows for a buffer zone along Gaza’s perimeter, where Israeli forces could remain until the territory is deemed “secure”. 
Hamas has dismissed these proposals as insufficient, with official Mousa Abu Marzouk criticizing the proposed withdrawal maps as vague and unprofessional, warning that Israel might use such ambiguities to stall or sabotage the negotiations. Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal as a non-negotiable condition for peace.
On the ground, despite ongoing ceasefire talks, Israeli atrocities have continued with deadly force across Gaza, including ground invasions, exacerbating civilian suffering and undermining confidence in the peace process. 
Islamic Jihad’s Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhala underscored this dynamic, emphasizing the Palestinian resolve to resist Israel’s attempts to achieve through negotiations what it could not accomplish militarily. 
“We are the rightful owners,” he stated, affirming that surrender is not an option for the people of Gaza.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya echoed these sentiments in a recent interview, stressing Hamas’s readiness to reach a deal that would end the war, secure an Israeli withdrawal, and facilitate a