• Hamas is willing to negotiate a five-year truce and a one-time release of hostages.
• The group rejects Israeli demands for disarmament while calling for a comprehensive peace agreement.
• Israeli military operations continue amidst high civilian casualties in Gaza.
• The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is escalating as aid supplies dwindle under a blockade.
• Ongoing negotiations are taking place in Cairo with Egyptian mediators.

Hamas has expressed readiness to negotiate a five-year truce with Israel, alongside a one-time release of all remaining hostages, according to officials. This development comes as the Palestinian militant group engages in talks with mediators in Cairo, hoping to end the ongoing conflict that was reignited by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties on both sides, according to Dawn, Reuters, and South China Morning Post.

During discussions, Hamas officials rejected an earlier Israeli proposal that included a limited 45-day ceasefire in exchange for 10 living hostages. Instead, Hamas demands a comprehensive agreement that guarantees a permanent cessation of hostilities, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian aid. "Any proposal that does not include a comprehensive and permanent cessation of the war will not be considered," stated Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, as reported by Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Despite expressing openness to negotiation, Hamas officials insisted that they would not disarm, marking it as a "red line" in discussions. "The weapon of resistance is not negotiable and will remain in our hands as long as the occupation exists," said Taher Al-Nono, the media adviser for Hamas. This stance aligns with a long-standing position opposing any disarmament while the conflict persists, as noted by Dawn and South China Morning Post.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with reports indicating severe shortages of food and medical supplies as a result of the prolonged blockade, leading the UN to warn that humanitarian needs are reaching catastrophic levels. "There is no food in the free kitchen, there is no food in the markets," remarked local residents, highlighting the dire conditions faced by civilians in the region. This escalating crisis occurs amidst continued airstrikes, which have resulted in high civilian casualties, with at least 51,495 Palestinians reported dead since the conflict resumed, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and South China Morning Post.