Not a Peace Deal Just Another Demand to Surrender
Let’s get one thing straight: what Israel tossed at Hamas this week wasn’t a ceasefire deal—it was a list of demands dressed up like diplomacy. And Hamas, unsurprisingly, tore it up.
A senior Hamas official told CNN in no uncertain terms: “The offer is rejected in full and in detail.”
You don’t need a translator to grasp what that means.
Israel’s so-called proposal promised a 45-day pause in bombing the Gaza Strip while negotiations for a permanent ceasefire were supposed to take place. But the catch? Hamas had to hand over its weapons and agree to a temporary military redeployment not a full withdrawal. In other words: “Stop fighting while we take your guns, keep our tanks parked nearby, and maybe just maybe—we’ll think about stopping the war later.”
No surprise Hamas isn’t buying it.
What Hamas Wants: Real Peace, Not a Publicity Stunt
From the beginning of this war, Hamas has made its red lines clear: no disarmament and no fake pauses. If there’s going to be peace, it has to be full and final—with Israeli forces out of Gaza, the siege lifted, and weapons staying right where they are.
“We want a comprehensive package,” the official told CNN.
That means no more occupation, no more airstrikes, and no more living under the thumb of a state that has spent decades bulldozing homes, blockading food and medicine, and calling it “self-defense.”
And for the record, let’s not act surprised that a group formed out of occupation and oppression isn’t eager to surrender the only leverage it has left.
The Hostage Exchange: A Deal or a Distraction?
Israel’s proposal included a staggered release of the remaining 59 hostages. First up: Edan Alexander, an American-Israeli, would be released as a “special gesture” to the United States. Sounds sweet, right? Except this “gesture” would come with a steep cost: 120 Palestinian prisoners (serving life sentences) and over 1,100 detainees—many of whom have never even been charged with a crime.
In exchange, Hamas was expected to not only free hostages but also hand over bodies—16 deceased Israelis—for the remains of 160 dead Palestinians Israel has kept locked away.
Yes, you read that right: even in death, Palestinians are still used as bargaining chips.
Netanyahu’s Far-Right Buddies Want More Blood
Once Hamas tossed the ceasefire proposal in the trash, Israeli lawmakers on the far-right predictably lost their minds. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel would keep pounding Gaza until “complete victory” is achieved. (Because nothing says “peace” like flattening a city of 2 million people.)
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, never one to hold back his inner fascist, wrote on Telegram: “No deal, no ceasefire, and no aid—only the continuation of fighting until the surrender of the Nazis from Gaza.”
Nazis. He called them Nazis. The people who’ve been trapped, starved, bombed, and blockaded for 17 years.
Meanwhile, The Hope Forum—a right-wing group claiming to represent hostages’ families—tweeted, “Only massive military pressure, a total blockade, and capturing territory will force Hamas to beg for a deal. What are you waiting for?!”
So much for empathy.
Humanitarian Crisis? What Humanitarian Crisis?
Let’s talk about what’s happening on the ground in Gaza. Since Israel shut off humanitarian aid in early March, over 500,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes—again. The UN says it’s the worst the situation has been since the war started. And that’s saying something.
Nearly 1,700 Palestinians have been killed just since March 18, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel, of course, claims the blockade is “working” because it’s putting pressure on Hamas. But here’s what the UN is saying: Gaza is running out of everything—water, food, medicine, fuel. And with 90% of water infrastructure destroyed, families are drinking from whatever they can find, even if it’s riddled with disease.
UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric didn’t mince words: “Lifesaving supplies are nearing total depletion.”
And let’s not forget the kids. According to the UN, mental health needs are skyrocketing, especially among children. You try growing up under drones and airstrikes and see how you turn out.
“Resistance and Its Weaponry Are Linked to Occupation”
Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas official leading the negotiation team, put it plainly in a statement from Qatar:
“The resistance and its weaponry are linked to the existence of the [Israeli] occupation. It is a natural right for our people and all peoples under occupation.”
Al-Hayya didn’t close the door to peace. In fact, he said Hamas is ready to negotiate a real agreement right now—one that includes the release of hostages, lifting of the blockade, and rebuilding Gaza.
But “real” is the key word here. Not a 45-day illusion while bombs keep falling.
The Real Numbers They Don’t Want You to Hear
Israel launched this war in October 2023 after Hamas’s surprise attack killed 1,200 Israelis and captured 251 hostages. That number—1,200—has been repeated endlessly by Israeli officials and international media. And yes, it was horrifying.
But the other number? The one no one seems to talk about?
More than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since then.
Let that sink in. Fifty-one thousand. That’s like wiping out an entire small town and still having bombs left over.
So if you’re asking why Hamas didn’t say “thank you” and shake hands over a ceasefire deal that doesn’t even end the war—maybe now you get it.
This Was Never About Peace—It Was About Control
Israel’s proposal wasn’t a peace plan. It was a PR move. Something Netanyahu could flash in front of cameras and say, “See? We tried.”
But offering a ceasefire without ending the war is like giving someone a bandage while you stab them.
And demanding disarmament from a people under occupation? That’s not peace—that’s colonialism with better lighting.
Final Thought: You Don’t Negotiate with a Boot on Someone’s Neck
If there’s ever going to be real peace in Gaza, it’s not going to come from more airstrikes or empty proposals. It’s going to come when the world stops pretending this is a fair fight. It’s going to come when the people in Gaza are allowed to breathe, rebuild, and resist—without being labeled as terrorists for doing so.
Until then, let’s not call this a “war.” Wars happen between armies. What’s happening in Gaza is something else. Something darker.
And if you still can’t see it, maybe you’re not looking hard enough.
