Hamas said it is prepared to accept a ceasefire in Gaza provided the arrangement includes clear guarantees that the 21-month war will be brought to a permanent end. The Islamist group is consulting with other Palestinian factions before giving mediators its formal answer.
The latest U.S.-backed proposal, drafted with Qatar and Egypt, calls for a 60-day truce, the phased release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of 18 bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, immediate humanitarian aid deliveries and a partial Israeli military pull-back. Follow-on negotiations would aim at a definitive cessation of hostilities.
Sources on both sides said Hamas is expected to reply within hours; outlets linked to the movement reported a "positive" response had already been passed to Qatar. Israel’s security cabinet has convened to review the outline, though officials fear Hamas may reopen the ratio of prisoners for hostages.
Jerusalem has signalled readiness to endorse the framework, and U.S. President Donald Trump plans to press the matter when he hosts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington next week.
While talks advance, Israeli strikes across the enclave killed at least 59 people on 3 July, according to Gaza health officials, highlighting the urgency of securing a pause in fighting.
Hamas said in an official statement on Friday that it will deliver its final decision over the Gaza ceasefire proposal to the mediators after the consultations are over. #XinhuaNews
