Hamas Signals Immediate Ceasefire Talks as Israel Weighs 60-Day Truce Proposal

Hamas said late Friday it is ready to enter “immediate and serious” negotiations on a United States–backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, marking the group’s clearest public acceptance of fresh talks since hostilities erupted in October 2023. The announcement followed consultations with other Palestinian factions and was delivered to Israel through Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

According to Palestinian sources cited by several media outlets, the draft framework calls for a 60-day truce during which Hamas would free 10 living Israeli hostages and hand over several bodies in exchange for an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners. The organisation is also seeking an Israeli troop pull-back, assurances against renewed fighting and the restoration of United Nations–led aid distribution across the enclave.

Israeli officials said no decision has been taken yet. The security cabinet is expected to convene after the Jewish sabbath on Saturday evening, with local media reporting that a delegation could travel to Doha within days to test the outlines of the agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due in Washington on Monday for talks with President Donald Trump, who told reporters a ceasefire deal could be reached "next week."

Fighting has continued in the meantime. Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli operations killed at least 35 people on Saturday, a day after it reported more than 50 fatalities. The Hamas-run health ministry puts the territory’s death toll at above 57,000 since the war began. Israel says 1,219 people were killed in the 7 October 2023 attacks and that 49 of the 251 hostages originally taken remain in Gaza, including 27 it believes are dead.