[Regnum] The Hamas movement is ready to begin negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. This was stated on April 17 by the leader of the movement in Gaza, Khalil al-Haya, during an address that was broadcast on all Arab TV channels.
“The movement emphasizes its readiness to immediately begin negotiations that would allow the release of all hostages and our prisoners whose release was agreed upon, in exchange for a complete end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the occupation forces (Israel - ed.),” al-Haya specified.
Al Arabiya reported that Israel was demanding that Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip disarm. In response, the Hamas leader said that carrying weapons was a "natural right" for radicals "under occupation."
Earlier, Regnum News Agency reported that in January, Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas, with the assistance of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, agreed on a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The agreement envisaged a three-stage process: first, Israeli troops were to leave Gaza in exchange for the release of 33 hostages; the second stage involved the release of the remaining Israeli prisoners and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire; and the third stage involved the exchange of bodies of the dead.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office on February 23 said Hamas was holding humiliating ceremonies for Israeli hostages before releasing them. Tel Aviv announced it was suspending the exchange. As a result, the Israeli army resumed military operations against the Palestinian movement in the Gaza Strip.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on April 17, a long-term settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is only possible on the basis of the creation of two sovereign states.