Hamas Consults Palestinian Groups on Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

Hamas is engaging with other Palestinian factions to discuss a new ceasefire and hostage release proposal for Gaza, put forward by the United States through mediators Qatar and Egypt. The group stated it would provide a final decision to mediators after consultations and make an official announcement thereafter.

The proposal reportedly includes the phased release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. It also outlines provisions for increased food and medical aid to Gaza, facilitated by the United Nations and Red Cross, alongside a partial Israeli military withdrawal. A key Hamas demand is a guarantee that Israeli military operations will not resume after the proposed 60-day ceasefire, during which negotiations to end the 20-month conflict would begin.

US President Donald Trump, speaking on Friday, expressed hope for a response from Hamas within 24 hours, noting that Israel had accepted the ceasefire conditions. The proposal’s progress is seen as critical ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to Washington next week for indirect talks. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza, with at least 15 Palestinians killed overnight in strikes on tents housing displaced people in Khan Younis, according to the local Nasser hospital. Among the victims was 13-year-old Mayar al-Farr’s brother, Mahmoud. “The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago,” she told Reuters at his funeral. Another resident, Adlar Mouamar, who lost his nephew, called for an end to the violence. In Tel Aviv, families of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza—20 of whom are believed to be alive—rallied near the US embassy, urging action to secure their release. Former hostage Keith Siegel, freed in February after 484 days, emphasized the need for a “comprehensive deal” to bring all captives home. Ruby Chen, whose son Itay was killed on 7 October 2023 and whose body is held in Gaza, appealed to Netanyahu to finalize an agreement during his US visit. The war, triggered by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, has led to over 57,130 deaths in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. Israel’s military campaign aims to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities, but Netanyahu has vowed to secure the release of all hostages while continuing operations until Hamas is defeated. As hopes for a ceasefire persist, the failure of previous talks fuels skepticism among families and observers about the prospects for lasting peace.