ISTANBUL (AP) — A top Hamas political official told The Associated Press the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a truce of five years or more with Israel and that it would lay down its weapons and convert into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders. The comments by Khalil al-Hayya in an interview Wednesday came amid a stalemate in months of talks for a cease-fire in Gaza. The suggestion that Hamas would disarm appeared to be a significant concession by the militant group officially committed to Israel’s destruction. But it’s unlikely Israel would consider such a scenario. It has vowed to crush Hamas following the deadly Oct. 7 attacks that triggered the war, and its current leadership is adamantly opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state on lands Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. |
Xi, Assad Jointly Announce ChinaDemand for China's fast fashion boosts global air freight cargoAirbus to set up innovation center in ChinaUC Berkeley to host conference on geneXi Focus: Xi Calls for Promoting Peace, Solidarity, Inclusiveness Through SportsXi, Assad Jointly Announce ChinaWorld should focus more on small businesses, young people: Jack MaChina's courier delivering volume hits 132 billion parcels in 2023China's fighter jet JNvidia CEO visits Beijing