Gaza: Hamas Demands Full Israeli Withdrawal, Reconstruction

Hamas officials say their delegation in Egypt is pushing for Israel’s full military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip as indirect negotiations with Israel continue in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

In a statement Tuesday, a Hamas spokesperson told the BBC that the group’s key objectives for the talks, which are being mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States also includes the immediate launch of a comprehensive reconstruction effort.

According to the official, the priorities include “a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, ‘complete withdrawal’ of Israeli forces from ‘all areas of the Gaza Strip,’ unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid, and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.

The group is also calling for the swift commencement of reconstruction under a “Palestinian national body of technocrats,” as well as a “fair prisoner exchange deal.”

The talks, part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Middle East peace plan, have entered a second day, though deep divisions exist between the two sides.

While Israel has reportedly accepted most of the American proposals, Hamas is said to have agreed only partially, insisting on guarantees for sovereignty and full territorial control.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s foreign ministry urged both parties to focus on transforming the plan into a practical and enforceable agreement.

The ministry’s spokesman Majed al-Ansari noted that the deal would inevitably include elements that neither side would fully embrace, but said the goal was to secure a framework that could lead to a permanent end to the war.

In Israel, the day was marked by solemn remembrance of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, which killed over 1,200 people.

In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, survivors and families of captives still held in Gaza gathered to call for progress in the talks.

“No place feels like home anymore, and until all the hostages come back none of us will feel safe,” one woman told BBC.

Following the October 7 attacks, Israel’s military campaign has led to the death of over 67,000 persons in Gaza, including civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.