proposal includes an initial 60-day truce and phased release of hostages, Mediators trying to secure a lasting truce
Web Desk
Gaza: Hamas has agreed to a new ceasefire proposal for Gaza without requesting any amendments, a source from the group told AFP on Monday, following renewed diplomatic efforts to end more than 22 months of conflict. Mediators Egypt and Qatar, supported by the United States, have been trying to secure a lasting truce as the war has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
According to the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, “Hamas has delivered its response to the mediators, confirming that Hamas and the factions agreed to the new ceasefire proposal without requesting any amendments.” Israel has not yet responded to the proposal.
A Palestinian source familiar with the talks said mediators are “expected to announce that an agreement has been reached and set a date for the resumption of talks,” adding that guarantees were provided to ensure implementation and pursue a permanent solution. Another Palestinian official earlier confirmed that the proposal includes an initial 60-day truce and phased release of hostages.
The ceasefire initiative comes over a week after Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to expand military operations into Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, sparking both international criticism and domestic opposition.
Hostage Release and Ceasefire Details
An Islamic Jihad source told AFP that the plan envisages a 60-day ceasefire “during which 10 Israeli hostages would be released alive, along with a number of bodies.” Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 that the Israeli military says are dead. The source added that the remaining captives would be released in a second phase, with broader settlement negotiations to follow. “All factions are supportive” of the Egyptian-Qatari proposal, the source confirmed.
US President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social, stating: “We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be.” Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week said Israel “will agree to an agreement in which all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war.”
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
On-the-ground footage from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza showed crowds mourning over the bodies of loved ones killed while seeking aid. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, visiting the Rafah border crossing, highlighted the severe humanitarian situation for over two million residents of Gaza and emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire. He noted that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was visiting “to consolidate efforts and apply maximum pressure on both sides to reach a deal as soon as possible.”
Egypt has also stated it is willing to join a potential international force in Gaza, provided it is backed by a UN Security Council resolution and includes a clear political framework.
On the ground, Gaza’s civil defence reported that Israeli forces killed at least 11 people across the territory on Monday, including six in the south. The Israeli military denied awareness of casualties from IDF fire in the southern areas. Restrictions on media and access in Gaza prevent independent verification of the reports.
Amnesty International accused Israel of implementing a “deliberate policy” of starvation in Gaza and systematically harming the health, welfare, and social fabric of Palestinian life. Israel denies these allegations while continuing strict control over aid entering the territory.
Casualties Overview
Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in 1,219 deaths, mostly civilians, according to AFP tallies based on official sources. Israeli military operations in Gaza have claimed over 62,004 Palestinian lives, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
