Hamas ‘serious’ on Gaza deal, but has fine print

Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell | October 8, 2025

Hamas wants to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza based on US President Trump’s plan, but still has a set of demands, a statement signalling that indirect talks with Israel in Egypt could be difficult and lengthy.

Trump, however, expressed optimism on Tuesday about progress toward a Gaza deal and said a US team had just left to take part in the negotiations.

“I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East” beyond just Gaza, he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum set out Hamas’ position on the second anniversary of the Palestinian militant group’s attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and one day after the indirect negotiations began in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Officials on all sides urged caution over the prospects for a rapid agreement, as Israelis remembered the bloodiest single day for Jews since the Holocaust and Gazans voiced hope for an end to the suffering brought by two years of war.

“The (Hamas) movement’s delegation participating in the current negotiations in Egypt is working to overcome all obstacles to reaching an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people in Gaza,” Barhoum said in a televised statement.

He said a deal must ensure an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip – conditions that Israel has never accepted. 

Israel, for its part wants Hamas to disarm, something the group rejects.

Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of a Palestinian “national technocratic body”, he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately comment on the status of the talks.

US officials have suggested they want to initially focus talks on a halt to the fighting and the logistics of how the hostages and Palestinian prisoners in Israel would be freed. 

In the absence of a ceasefire, Israel has pressed on with its offensive in Gaza, increasing its international isolation.

Opponents of Israel’s actions in Gaza held protests in Sydney, Australia and a handful of European cities on the anniversary of Hamas’ attack, despite denunciations by politicians who said such marches risked glorifying violence.

On the anniversary, some Israelis visited the places that were hit hardest that day.

Orit Baron stood at the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel beside a photo of her daughter Yuval, who was killed with her fiance Moshe Shuva. 

They were among 364 people who were shot, bludgeoned or burned to death there.

“They were supposed to get married on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. And both of the families decided because actually they were found (dead) together and they brought them to us together (that) the funeral will be together,” said Baron.

“They are buried next to each other because they were never separated.”

Israelis are hoping the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh will soon lead to the release of all the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.

“It’s like an open wound, the hostages, I can’t believe it’s been two years and they are still not home,” said Hilda Weisthal, 43.

In Gaza, 49-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Dib hoped for the end of a conflict that has caused a humanitarian disaster.

“It’s been two years that we are living in fear, horror, displacement and destruction,” he said.