The head of the Hamas organization, Khalil al-Hayya, announced on Thursday the reaching of an agreement with Israel and the end of the war in Gaza.
Al-Hayya, who escaped an Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar weeks ago, declared that the ceasefire would be permanent and that the Rafah crossing into Egypt would be open in both directions, allowing the free movement of people and humanitarian aid.
He said the agreement also calls for the release of all Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons. Hamas has received assurances from the United States, Arab mediators and Turkey that the conflict in Gaza has finally ended, he said.
Another senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, said in Egypt that no Palestinian would accept disarmament and stressed that the people need weapons and resistance to defend themselves.
