Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal in Hostage Deal Talks
Hamas has accepted a new proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar that could pave the way for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, according to a source from the Palestinian group.
The plan, which is based on a framework advanced by US envoy Steve Witkoff, outlines a two-stage process. It calls for Hamas to release around half of the 50 remaining Israeli hostages during a 60-day truce.
Of these, about 20 are believed to still be alive. In return, both sides would use the pause to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza.
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Israeli authorities have not commented on the proposal. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously insisted that any deal must include the release of all hostages at once.
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On Sunday, huge crowds in Tel Aviv demanded that the government agree to a deal with Hamas. Netanyahu criticised the protests, saying they strengthened Hamas’s position in the talks.
The latest development comes as Israel’s cabinet prepares to review military plans to expand operations in Gaza and occupy Gaza City.
The war erupted after Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Gaza’s health ministry says at least 62,004 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli campaign since then.
