Hamas Signals Readiness for 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Urges Talks as Pressure Mounts
In a potential breakthrough after nearly 21 months of conflict, Hamas on Friday responded “positively” to a U.S.-brokered proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, expressing readiness to begin negotiations on the plan. The move comes amid mounting pressure on both Israel and the United States to reach a deal that would pause hostilities and secure the release of hostages.
Hamas issued a statement following internal consultations and discussions with other Palestinian factions, confirming it had conveyed its reply to mediators “with a positive spirit” and was prepared to move forward “with all seriousness.” The proposed framework includes a two-month ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza, and phased negotiations toward ending the war.
While Hamas’s response was largely supportive, a Palestinian official aligned with the group noted lingering concerns—specifically regarding humanitarian access, the reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and the timetable for Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza.
The response follows the announcement of the proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week. Trump stated that he expects responses from both sides shortly and intends to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the deal during their meeting in Washington on Monday.
Although Trump said he believed Israel had already accepted the conditions outlined in the proposal, Netanyahu has not yet publicly endorsed the plan. The Israeli leader continues to insist that any long-term ceasefire must include the disarmament of Hamas—an outcome the group has consistently rejected.
“I’ll be very firm with Bibi,” Trump said on Thursday, using Netanyahu’s nickname. “This may be our best chance at a ceasefire and hostage release before the conflict spirals further.”
Meanwhile, fighting in Gaza has shown no signs of slowing. The Israeli military reported striking over 100 targets in the past 24 hours, claiming to have eliminated multiple militants. Health authorities in Gaza reported at least 138 Palestinian deaths, including 15 people killed in a strike on a displacement camp in Khan Younis. Mass funerals were held on Friday.
“There should have been a ceasefire before I lost my brother,” said Mayar Al Farr, a 13-year-old girl grieving at a funeral in southern Gaza. Her brother was reportedly shot while searching for food and aid.
Back in Israel, frustration and urgency continue to rise among families of hostages. On Friday, coinciding with U.S. Independence Day, relatives of those abducted during Hamas’s October 7 attack gathered outside the American embassy in Tel Aviv, urging President Trump to secure a deal.
Protesters arranged a symbolic dinner table with 50 empty chairs—one for each hostage still believed to be alive. “Only you can make the deal,” said Gideon Rosenberg, whose employee Avinatan Or was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.
The proposed agreement reportedly includes the release of 10 hostages and the repatriation of the bodies of 18 others. Ruby Chen, whose 19-year-old son Itay—a dual American-Israeli soldier—was killed while being held captive, made an emotional appeal: “Netanyahu must come back from Washington with a deal that brings all of them home.”
The war began when Hamas launched a surprise assault into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251. In response, Israel launched a prolonged military campaign that has killed more than 57,000 people in Gaza—mostly civilians—and displaced millions, according to local health authorities.
With hope for a ceasefire once again on the table, the coming days may prove pivotal in determining whether diplomacy can finally halt one of the deadliest conflicts in the region’s recent history.
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