Hamas said on Saturday that it is in favor of any Gaza ceasefire proposal that guarantees a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Hamas said such a proposal must also ensure an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and include a serious prisoner exchange deal.
A Hamas delegation headed to Cairo on Saturday at the invitation of Egypt. While in Cairo, they are expected to meet with mediators from Qatar and Egypt as part of ongoing efforts to reach an agreement and halt Israeli attacks in Gaza, it added.
On the same day, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a video of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who has been held in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
In the video, Alexander shared his struggles and expressed concern about his safety amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. He also blamed the Israeli government for failing to secure his release.
Following the video's release, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that he had spoken with Alexander's family and assured them that intensive efforts were ongoing to secure the release of all hostages.
According to Hamas, it had given mediators its agreement to release Alexander and the bodies of four other hostages on March 14.
The first six-week phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas expired on March 1, and negotiations on the second phase remain stalled.
