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Middle East conflict

Hamas receives offers from several countries for hostage exchange talks

Senior Hamas representative Osama Hamdan reiterated that "ending the aggression" unleashed against the Palestinian people remains a priority for the movement

BEIRUT, December 26. /TASS/. The radical Palestinian Hamas movement has received proposals from several countries regarding the organization of talks with Israel on the exchange of hostages held in Gaza, senior Hamas representative Osama Hamdan said.

"In light of discussions about initiatives and proposals for negotiations for a hostage exchange, we confirm the following: <...> the movement has received [such] initiatives and proposals from several countries," Hamdan noted, as quoted by Hamas' Telegram channel.

However, he reiterated that "ending the aggression" unleashed against the Palestinian people remains a priority for the movement. Meanwhile, Hamdan clarified that the Palestinians "are not waiting for a temporary truce" but for a "complete cessation" of hostilities.

On November 22, Hamas reported reaching an agreement on a four-day humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip with Israel. It was mediated by Egypt and Qatar and went into effect on November 24. The parties extended the ceasefire several times. In the morning of December 1, however, the Israeli army accused Hamas of violating the truce and announced that it was reverting to hostilities in Gaza. On December 5, Hamas politburo member Osama Hamdan said that the radicals would not release the hostages until Israel stops its aggression in Gaza.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. Hamas has cast the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started a military operation there. Israel also strikes parts of Lebanon and Syria in retaliation for bombardments originating from these countries. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.

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