Hamas has reportedly agreed to a new ceasefire proposal from regional mediators, paving the way for a potential temporary halt in the 22-month conflict with Israel, a source in the Palestinian armed group told the BBC. The initiative, brokered by Egypt and Qatar, is based on a framework presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff in June.
Under the proposal, Hamas would release roughly half of the 50 remaining Israeli hostages 20 of whom are believed to be alive during a 60-day truce. The agreement would also open the door for negotiations on a long-term ceasefire. Hamas has submitted a written response agreeing to the terms without amendments or conditions.
Israel’s reaction remains uncertain. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that any deal must involve the immediate release of all hostages. In a video following reports of Hamas’s approval, Netanyahu commented that the group appeared to be “under immense pressure.” Meanwhile, Israeli military chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said the conflict is at a “turning point,” with intensified strikes targeting Gaza City.
Recent developments on the ground have been alarming. Israeli forces reportedly made a surprise advance into the southern Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, surrounding schools and a UN-run clinic sheltering displaced civilians. The Israeli cabinet is expected to approve plans to occupy Gaza City later this week, escalating the humanitarian crisis for the city’s 2.1 million residents.
Mediators, including Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, have been meeting in Cairo, with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani also applying pressure for a resolution. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the urgency of a ceasefire to alleviate “beyond imagination” humanitarian conditions.
Civilians on both sides are increasingly vocal. In Gaza, residents are calling for peace and safety for children, while hundreds of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv demanding a resolution to bring hostages home.
The conflict, triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, has resulted in over 62,000 deaths in Gaza, mass displacement, severe infrastructure damage, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. With malnutrition claiming more lives daily, the proposed ceasefire represents a critical, though fragile, opportunity to prevent further catastrophe.
The coming days will be pivotal as mediators work to reconcile Israel’s demands with Hamas’s conditions, balancing the urgent need for civilian protection with the complex realities of hostage negotiations.
