Hamas Rejects Israeli Ceasefire Proposal, Demands Full Withdrawal and End to War

GAZA CITY / JERUSALEM – April 18, 2025:Hamas has officially rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire offer, dismissing it as a "partial" agreement that falls short of guaranteeing an end to hostilities and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The development deals a significant blow to ongoing mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States aimed at de-escalating the war and securing the release of hostages.

Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas’s negotiating delegation, described the Israeli proposal as unrealistic and one-sided. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented terms that make any genuine resolution impossible,” Hayya said in a video statement. “We will not accept partial agreements that merely serve as political cover for continued aggression, displacement, and starvation.”

Under Israel’s most recent proposal, Hamas would release 10 hostages in exchange for a 45-day ceasefire and the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners. The deal also included provisions for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza and discussions on a broader cessation of hostilities. However, for the first time, Israel included a demand for Hamas’s full disarmament—an ultimatum Hamas has categorically rejected.

“It is our natural right to possess arms in defense of our people,” Hayya stated. Instead, Hamas reiterated its readiness to consider a comprehensive agreement involving the release of all remaining hostages—believed to be 24 alive out of 58 captured during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel—in return for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. The group insists that any such agreement must include “a complete end to the war and total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.”

Israel’s response has been uncompromising. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich both signaled a more aggressive military stance in light of Hamas’s rejection. Smotrich went as far as declaring it was time to “open the gates of hell” on Gaza.

The conflict has continued to escalate. Since the ceasefire collapse in March, Israeli forces have seized roughly 30% of Gaza, including significant parts of Rafah. Over 1,600 Palestinians have reportedly been killed during this renewed phase of hostilities, including 15 individuals—10 from a single family—killed in overnight airstrikes this week.

Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Aid convoys carrying food, water, and fuel have been barred from entry since March 2. Hamas accuses Israel of deliberately using starvation as a tactic of war—an allegation that has drawn international scrutiny and legal condemnation.

Concerns are also growing for the safety of remaining hostages. Hamas’s military wing claimed it had lost contact with the cell holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, citing a direct Israeli strike on their location.

While the Biden-Trump administration has backed Israel’s stance, the White House publicly condemned Hamas’s decision to walk away from the offer. “Hamas’s rejection shows a clear lack of interest in peace and a preference for prolonged conflict,” said U.S. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt. “The position of the United States remains unchanged: release the hostages or face the consequences.”

With no progress emerging from the latest round of negotiations in Cairo, the path to a sustainable ceasefire remains fraught. Observers warn that without a major diplomatic breakthrough, both the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the risk of regional spillover will deepen.