Arab mediators are waiting for an official response from Israel after Hamas announced it had accepted a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The plan, put forward by Qatar and Egypt, aims to prevent a large-scale Israeli offensive to fully occupy Gaza.
Qatar described the proposal as “almost identical” to a U.S.-backed plan for a 60-day truce, during which roughly half of the 50 hostages held in Gaza – including 20 believed to be alive – would be released. The period would also allow both sides to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining captives.
However, Israeli officials have recently stressed they will only accept a comprehensive deal that secures the release of all hostages. A senior Israeli official told local media: “Israel’s position hasn’t changed – release of all hostages and fulfilment of other conditions defined for ending the war.”
Later this week, Israel’s cabinet is expected to approve military plans to occupy Gaza City, where intensified airstrikes have already forced thousands to flee. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to take control of all of Gaza – including areas where most of its 2.1 million Palestinians have sought shelter – after earlier indirect talks with Hamas collapsed.
On Monday night, Hamas confirmed that its leadership and other Palestinian factions had endorsed the ceasefire proposal presented by mediators in Cairo.
Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told Al-Araby TV that no amendments were requested, calling it “a partial deal leading to a comprehensive deal.” He added that negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would begin immediately upon implementation.
“We hope the 60 days of ceasefire will be enough to reach a final agreement that completely ends this war,” he said.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, said the proposal was “98%” similar to the plan presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
“It is very close, almost identical to what was on the table,” Ansari noted, while stressing that the details remain critical.
Witkoff’s plan outlined a 60-day truce under which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in two phases, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations for a lasting ceasefire would begin on day one of the deal.
Israel accepted Witkoff’s proposal, but Hamas rejected it at the time, partly due to the absence of guarantees that a temporary ceasefire would lead to a permanent one.
Israeli media reported that officials are reviewing the new ceasefire proposal along with Hamas’s response.
Public broadcaster Kan said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not completely ruled out the option of a partial deal, despite his recent insistence on only accepting a comprehensive agreement.
On Saturday night, Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel would agree to a deal only if all hostages were released at once and under Israel’s conditions for ending the war. These include the disarmament of Hamas, the demilitarisation of Gaza, Israeli control of the territory’s perimeter, and the establishment of a governing authority not linked to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
In a video message on Monday, Netanyahu said he had met with senior military commanders to discuss “plans regarding Gaza City and the completion of our missions.” He added that media reports indicated Hamas was “under immense pressure.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media: “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.”
Families of hostages, however, fear that a new offensive in Gaza City could put their loved ones at greater risk. On Sunday night, hundreds of thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv, calling on the government to strike a deal with Hamas to end the war and bring the captives home. Netanyahu accused the protests of strengthening Hamas’s bargaining position.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.
Since then, at least 62,004 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The conflict has displaced most of the population multiple times, with more than 90% of homes damaged or destroyed. The territory’s healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed, and UN-backed experts have warned that famine conditions are already unfolding due to severe food shortages.
