In a significant development, Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza without requesting any amendments, according to a source within the group. This move signals a potential breakthrough in the conflict that has been raging for over 22 months. The proposal, brokered by mediators from Egypt and Qatar with US support, aims to secure a lasting truce and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The plan includes an initial 60-day ceasefire during which 10 Israeli hostages would be released alive, along with a number of bodies. A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations said mediators are expected to announce that an agreement has been reached and set a date for the resumption of talks. The proposal also includes guarantees to ensure implementation and work toward a permanent solution.
However, Israel has yet to respond to the proposal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously stated that Israel “will agree to an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war.” Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism, stating that the only way hostages would be freed is if Hamas is “confronted and destroyed”.
The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with over 62,004 Palestinians killed, mostly civilians, and 1,219 people killed in Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with warnings of famine and widespread destruction. The international community continues to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
