A top Hamas official stated the group is willing to negotiate a truce of five years or more with Israel and transition into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is formed on pre-1967 borders. Despite Israeli skepticism, Hamas aims to join the Palestine Liberation Organisation, seeking a unified government for Gaza and the West Bank. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, and negotiations for a longer-term cease-fire remain stalled. Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza but remains open to dialogue.