Hamas has told mediators that it is prepared to freeze all offensive operations against Israel from Gaza for up to a decade, and it is prepared to bury its weapons, if Israeli forces fully withdraw from the enclave, a senior Palestinian official familiar with the discussions told Middle East Eye.
"Hamas is offering a guarantee that no weapon will be fired from Gaza against Israel, and it will do that by burying the weapons," the official said. "It offered to establish a hudna (a term used in Islamic tradition to describe a long-term truce) for seven to ten years between Gaza and Israel, and Hamas will not use the weapons."
Hamas has until now refused to hand over its weapons except under the authority of a democratically elected leadership of a fully sovereign Palestinian state. The movement has repeatedly stated that its armed campaign against Israel would only end once the occupation of Palestinian land ends.
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"Hamas is offering a guarantee that no weapon will be fired from Gaza against Israel, and it will do that by burying the weapons," the official said. "It offered to establish a hudna (a term used in Islamic tradition to describe a long-term truce) for seven to ten years between Gaza and Israel, and Hamas will not use the weapons."
Hamas has until now refused to hand over its weapons except under the authority of a democratically elected leadership of a fully sovereign Palestinian state. The movement has repeatedly stated that its armed campaign against Israel would only end once the occupation of Palestinian land ends.
Exclusive: Hamas proposes long-term ceasefire if Israel fully withdraws from Gaza
Palestinian movement says ceasefire would hold for 10 years and its military wing would bury its weapons if Israel pulls its troops out and mediators guarantee compliance
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