A high-ranking Hamas official has told French news agency AFP Wednesday that the terror group is prepared to enter into a ceasefire arrangement mirroring the recent agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Though the source did not specify ceasefire terms, Hamas has maintained its demands for a permanent cessation of hostilities, backed by international guarantees and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday, an Egyptian diplomatic mission arrived in Israel to explore possibilities for a hostage deal that could potentially expand into a broader ceasefire in Gaza.
Previously, Hezbollah had conditioned its cessation of fire toward Israel on the termination of the IDF's military operation in Gaza. The organization has now abandoned this position, leaving Hamas alone in the fighting against IDF forces.
Of the Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 massacre, 101 remain in captivity, with 35 declared dead
