Hamas agrees to latest Gaza ceasefire proposal, source in group says

TDT | Manama

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Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire and hostage release proposal put forward by regional mediators, raising cautious hopes for a breakthrough in the Gaza war. The deal, brokered by Egypt and Qatar and shaped around a US-backed framework, was confirmed by a Hamas source to the BBC.

Under the plan, Hamas would release roughly half of the 50 remaining Israeli hostages in two stages during a 60-day truce. Only about 20 of those hostages are believed to still be alive. The truce would also allow time for talks on a permanent ceasefire.

Israel’s response, however, remains uncertain. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel will only accept a deal if all hostages are freed at once. Speaking in a video message after Hamas’s announcement, Netanyahu did not directly address the proposal but suggested the group was “under immense pressure.”

At the same time, Israel is preparing to intensify its military campaign. Netanyahu’s cabinet is expected this week to approve a plan to occupy Gaza City, where heavy strikes have already forced thousands of Palestinians to flee. The prime minister has vowed to extend Israel’s offensive across all of Gaza until Hamas is defeated.

Tensions are also rising at home. On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv, demanding the government reach a deal with Hamas to bring back the hostages and end the war. Netanyahu accused the demonstrators of strengthening Hamas’s bargaining hand.

Israel says it will not stop fighting until Hamas disarms, Gaza is demilitarized, and a new administration—unlinked to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority—takes control. Hamas, meanwhile, is demanding a full prisoner exchange, an end to the war, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The group insists it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established.

The conflict has raged since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Since then, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has left at least 62,004 people dead, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.