Hamas has formally rejected the latest ceasefire proposal

From the same article:

In a video statement, Hayya said that Hamas was no longer willing to accept “partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation”.

He said that Hamas was ready to agree to a “comprehensive package” that ensured the release of all the hostages, in return for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. A key condition, he added, was that Israel “must completely end the war against our people and fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip”.

This week, Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, had made it clear that Israeli troops intended to remain in “security buffer zones” it had established in Gaza since the ceasefire with Hamas collapsed in March.

In recent weeks, Israeli troops have taken control of about 30% of Gaza, including parts of Rafah. More than 1,600 people in Gaza have been killed since the ceasefire collapsed, with 15 people, including 10 people from the same family, killed in airstrikes overnight.

After Hamas’s rejection of the deal, Netanyahu’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said it was time to “open the gates of hell” on Gaza. Earlier this week, Katz had pledged to escalate the conflict with “tremendous force” if Hamas did not return the hostages.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/18/hamas-rejects-israel-latest-ceasefire-proposal-gaza

Hamas rejects Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal over ‘impossible conditions’

Hamas has formally rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal, saying it will not accept a “partial” deal that does not guarantee an end to the war or a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Hamas’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, accused Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of putting forward an offer that “set impossible conditions for a deal that does not lead to the end of the war or full withdrawal”.

There are 58 hostages held in Gaza who were captured by Hamas after the 7 October attack on southern Israel in 2023, with 24 still believed to be alive.

In Israel’s most recent offer to Hamas, they had proposed the initial release of 10 hostages in return for a 45-day ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners, with the promise of further discussion of ending the war and restoring aid to Gaza.

For the first time, Israel had demanded the complete disarmament of Hamas as part of the deal – which the militant group has said is a red line. Hayya said it was their “natural right” to possess weapons.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/18/hamas-rejects-israel-latest-ceasefire-proposal-gaza

I agree with nearly everything all of that @Martymcfly24

Though I can’t say I can “see why they wouldn’t”.

To my mind it’s very obvious now that Hamas can’t hope to gain anything from further hostilities. All that can be lost are more lives - military & civilian.

I believe they expected more support from the international community than has been forthcoming. Their power is weakening by the day. The best thing they could do is agree to the ceasefire to save lives because they know now they can’t achieve their goal of destroying Israel.

I came from the other thread but said I would answer here . I definitely think they should have accepted the proposal 45 days is quite a long time that further negotiations might have occurred.

I also think releasing the hostages is very important. Obviously from the humanitarian side of it, those poor people have suffered so much but also if Hamas wants any support from the international community they need to do this. I understand a hypothetical argument that the hostages are their "bargaining chip" (I apologize for the crudeness) but while those hostages are with them there will not be any support.

Also any pause in shelling and humanitarian aid coming into the country would be a massive relief for the people.

Conversely Netanyahu has stated they want to follow Donald Trumps plan which is not a good negotiating start and undermines the purpose of having discussions (I really wish that man would f off out of everything, he has done untold damage). Plus I do believe it is having his support that allowed the last ceasefire to dissolve.

So basically I have splinters in my arse from sitting on the fence. Yes they should accept it but I can see why they wouldn't.

This is from Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian peace activist. It's a very good explanation of Hamas' motivations

About Hamas and Disarmament: Hamas continues to refuse any ceasefire deals that would require disarmament to end the war. This is not because the group really cares about resistance or is worried about another Sabra and Shatila massacre, as their propaganda claims — the number of Palestinians dead from this war that Hamas triggered in Gaza far exceeds that of all Palestinian lives lost over the past five-plus decades combined. Furthermore, the current arsenal of Hamas is utterly useless. It has been decimated, reduced to a bunch of rusted rockets that often fall back into Gaza and fail to cause any serious damage to Israeli targets, with the group’s bench of leadership and experienced fighters almost entirely eliminated and without any means to replenish its stockpiles.

What Hamas is refusing to accept is to give up its role and ultimate control over Gaza, which is solely and only maintained by the group's thuggery and weaponry that is turned inwards to suppress any opposition. In effect, Hamas is refusing to give up a bunch of AKs and small firearms that are only useful against unarmed civilians who have grown tired of the terror group’s rule and fascism. Hamas couldn't care less about using its arsenal against Israel at this point; it is mainly refusing to leave Gaza and give up control of its weaponry because it doesn’t want to lose access to the billions of dollars that it once had as a result of its power and rule in the Gaza Strip. Remember: governance, control, rule, and power equal relevance, money, dominion, real estate, resources, jobs, and vast economic interests – that’s the heart of Hamas’s rule.

Did you know that Gaza’s first shopping malls were created during the blockade by Hamas-affiliated businessmen? Do you know how many Hamas hundred-thousandaires and millionaires were made due to the group’s rise to power and control of Gaza, even as 70% if of the population were made aid dependent? If you still believe the “resistance” lies, pity you!

Definitely think Hamas should have agreed to this proposal for a 45 day truce in order to allow humanitarian aid back into Gaza and to allow a pause in hostilities while further attempts at a permanent end to the war could be negotiated.