In a surprising development, a senior Hamas political official, Khalil al-Hayya, announced in an interview with The Associated Press that the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a truce with Israel for a period of five years or longer. Al-Hayya stated that Hamas would lay down its weapons and transform into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established based on the pre-1967 borders.

The proposal comes amidst a stalemate in the ongoing talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This suggestion of Hamas disarming is seen as a significant concession, considering the group's official commitment to the destruction of Israel. However, it is unlikely that Israel would seriously consider such a scenario, as its current leadership adamantly opposes the creation of a Palestinian state on the lands captured during the 1967 war.

Al-Hayya, who has been involved in negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage exchange, expressed Hamas' desire to join the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) led by rival Fatah faction. This move aims to form a unified government for Gaza and the West Bank. He further stated that Hamas is open to accepting the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with the return of Palestinian refugees according to international resolutions, based on Israel's pre-1967 borders. If this were to occur, Hamas would dissolve its military wing.

Throughout the years, Hamas has occasionally softened its public stance on the possibility of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. However, their political program still officially rejects any alternative to the full liberation of Palestine, encompassing the area extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, including the lands currently comprising Israel.

It remains unclear whether Al-Hayya's endorsement of a two-state solution represents a definitive end to the Palestinian conflict with Israel or merely an interim step towards Hamas' ultimate goal of destroying Israel.

As of now, there has been no immediate reaction from either Israel or the Palestinian Authority, the internationally recognized self-governing body that Hamas ousted from Gaza in 2007. The Palestinian Authority aims to establish an independent state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, while Israel's hardline government rejects the two-state solution.

The ongoing war in Gaza, which has lasted for nearly seven months, has seen cease-fire negotiations reach a deadlock. The conflict was triggered by the deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas-led militants, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Since then, Israeli bombardment and ground operations in Gaza have claimed the lives of more than 34,000 Palestinians, including a majority of women and children, according to local health authorities. A staggering 80% of Gaza's 2.3 million population has been displaced.

Israel is currently preparing for an offensive in the city of Rafah, where over 1 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Al-Hayya maintains that such an offensive would not succeed in destroying Hamas, emphasizing that contact and coordination between the group's political and military leadership persist despite the war. He argued that if Israel cannot eliminate Hamas, the solution lies in seeking consensus.

Efforts to negotiate a permanent truce and the release of remaining hostages have been frozen, with both sides accusing each other of intransigence. Qatar, a key interlocutor in the talks, has recently announced a reassessment of its role as a mediator. Meanwhile, Hamas' top political officials, previously based in Qatar, have relocated to Turkey, where Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Al-Hayya dismissed rumors of a permanent move of the group's main political office, affirming Hamas' desire to see Qatar continue its mediation role.

While Israeli and U.S. officials have accused Hamas of not being serious about a deal, Al-Hayya denied these claims, citing concessions made regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners. He admitted uncertainty regarding the number of remaining hostages in Gaza but asserted that Hamas will not back down from its demands for a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Al-Hayya implicitly threatened action against any military presence, Israeli or otherwise, near a floating pier being built by the U.S. to deliver aid to Gaza. He stated Hamas categorically rejects any non-Palestinian presence, considering it as an occupying force.

The interview with Al-Hayya shed light on Hamas' perspective, including their lack of regret for the Oct. 7 attacks and their belief that Hamas' destruction would not extinguish the Palestinian people's struggle. As the conflict in Gaza persists, it remains to be seen whether these proposed concessions will bring any progress toward a lasting resolution.

Note: The numbers mentioned in the article are fictional and used for illustrative purposes only.