The Palestinian group Hamas has rejected a new Israeli offer for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that would have seen militants disarm in exchange for the release of hostages and a pause in fighting, a source close to the talks told the BBC on April 15, 2025. According to Israeli authorities, Hamas continues to hold alive 24 hostages taken during an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed around 1200 people. The group's rejection of Israel's terms threatens fragile peace efforts, raising tensions in the region.

Egypt, a key mediator in the talks, has given Hamas updated proposals aimed at finding a compromise. According to the BBC, Palestinian negotiators plan to discuss them not only within the group but also with other armed groups in Gaza, including Islamic Jihad. This highlights the difficulty of coordinating between the different factions, each with its own priorities. Hamas insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of a significant number of Palestinian prisoners, which Israel finds unacceptable, demanding first and foremost the disarmament of the militants and the return of all hostages.

Talks in Cairo, where Egyptian and Qatari officials are trying to bridge the gap, have yet to yield a breakthrough. A BBC source noted that Hamas views the hostages as its main leverage, making their release unlikely without significant concessions from Israel. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating: according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry, over 2023 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 48, sparking growing protests around the world.

Israel offered a 45-day truce, including the release of 10 living hostages and the handover of the bodies of six dead, in exchange for the release of 120 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1111 detained during the war. Hamas, according to the group's spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri, rejected these terms, calling them an attempt to "avoid commitments to a complete end to the war." Al Jazeera clarifies that Hamas is demanding guarantees of an end to the conflict and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, which is at odds with Tel Aviv's position, which insists on maintaining a military presence in strategic areas such as the Philadelphi Corridor.