Resistance: Surrender Not an Option for Gazans

Israel’s Desperate Diplomacy After Military Failure

Date: 08 October 2025 - 21:10

News ID: ۱۴۴۴۳۱

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

prisoner exchange aligned with Trump’s framework.

However, he pointedly hit out at Israel for violating ceasefire agreements and continuing the blockade and attacks, particularly in northern Gaza, even as negotiations proceed.

“Israel has never honored its promises throughout history,” al-Hayya said, calling for concrete guarantees from the international community and the states facilitating the talks to ensure the cessation of hostilities and respect for any agreement reached.

The human toll of the conflict remains staggering. Since October 2023, Israeli atrocities in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of nearly 67,200 Palestinians, the majority women and children, and have rendered Gaza almost uninhabitable.

The relentless bombardment has caused widespread displacement, severe shortages of food and medical supplies, and the spread of disease. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, highlighting the urgency for a meaningful ceasefire that respects Palestinian rights and dignity.

Hamas’s stance throughout the negotiations underscores its commitment to securing the political and human rights of Palestinians while refusing to capitulate to demands for disarmament or unconditional surrender.

The movement maintains that any lasting peace must guarantee the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom, stability, and statehood.

The international community’s role remains crucial in ensuring that the negotiations lead to a just and enforceable agreement, one that ends the cycle of Israeli violence and allows Gaza’s people to rebuild their lives free from occupation and siege.