Daijiworld Media Network –Gaza

Gaza, Jul 11: In a significant development amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed readiness to negotiate a permanent ceasefire with Hamas—provided the group agrees to completely lay down its arms and relinquish all governing and military authority in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking via video from Washington on Thursday, Netanyahu clarified that Israel is open to talks during a proposed 60-day truce, but the outcome must ensure that Hamas no longer poses a security threat.

“At the beginning of this ceasefire, we will enter negotiations for a permanent end to the war,” Netanyahu said. “But only if Hamas lays down its weapons and ceases to have governing or military capabilities.”

Netanyahu issued a strong warning that if the conditions are not met within the ceasefire window, Israel will resort to military force to achieve its objectives. “If it cannot be achieved through negotiations within 60 days, we will achieve it through other means, by using the force of our heroic army,” he added.

According to reports from AFP, the 60-day truce is being proposed by Steve Witkoff, the US envoy to the Middle East. In return, Hamas is expected to release half of the 20 living hostages still believed to be held in Gaza.

The Israeli leader also addressed the hostage crisis, stating that Hamas will decide which captives are released during the proposed truce period. “We will do everything to maximise the number of those released in this round,” he said, acknowledging that not all aspects are within Israel’s control.

Meanwhile, Hamas responded on Thursday by rejecting any agreement that would include a continued Israeli military presence in Gaza. The group has demanded “real guarantees” for peace, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged enclave.

The proposed negotiations are part of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas taking place in Doha, which began on Sunday. These talks are the latest attempt to de-escalate a war that has persisted since Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which triggered Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza.

As discussions continue, Israel has reiterated its strategic interest in maintaining a presence in the southern part of the Gaza Strip—particularly along the so-called “Morag corridor”—a move that remains a sticking point in any potential ceasefire agreement.

With the international community closely watching, hopes for peace now hinge on whether Hamas agrees to Israel’s non-negotiable conditions, or if the conflict will spiral further into prolonged bloodshed.