Gaza Ceasefire Hopes Soar as Hamas Delivers ‘Positive Response’ to Proposal
Gaza Ceasefire Hopes Soar as Hamas Delivers ‘Positive Response’ to Proposal
Hope for a significant de-escalation in the Gaza conflict surged today after Hamas announced its ‘positive response’ to a proposed 60-day ceasefire deal with Israel. This pivotal development, confirmed by Hamas on Friday, opens a clear path toward halting the protracted hostilities following months of stalled negotiations.
The militant group stated it has submitted its affirmative reply to mediators and is ‘fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations regarding the mechanism for implementing this framework.’ Israel had previously accepted the US-sponsored framework, setting the stage for detailed final negotiations between the two sides.
The proposal outlines a 60-day cessation of hostilities, including the release of 10 living and 18 deceased Israeli hostages from Gaza, in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. The initial phase would see Hamas release eight living hostages, followed by an Israeli withdrawal from parts of northern Gaza and subsequent talks aimed at a permanent ceasefire.
Efforts intensified after last month’s Israel-Iran conflict, with Qatar leading new indirect talks. The current proposal, backed by the Trump administration, includes stronger US assurances for sustaining negotiations beyond the initial truce and commits Israel to increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
US President Donald Trump had publicly urged Hamas to accept the deal earlier in the week, following Israel’s acceptance on Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to convene his full cabinet tonight to discuss the proposal before traveling to Washington this weekend for meetings with President Trump on Monday. While some far-right Israeli factions may oppose the deal, other political parties have signaled support.
Both sides are now expected to swiftly enter proximity talks, where negotiators will exchange messages to finalize the agreement. Key issues, such as the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal, remain to be resolved. This is a rapidly developing situation, with the potential to bring an end to the devastating conflict that has claimed over 57,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
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