Efforts to secure a ceasefire in the nearly 21-month Israel-Hamas war gained traction Thursday as Hamas signaled tentative approval of a U.S.-brokered proposal for a 60-day halt in fighting, contingent on international guarantees that negotiations will lead to a permanent end to the war. The development comes as Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 59 people in a single day, according to Gaza health authorities.
Hamas is expected to respond to the proposal by Friday, with sources close to the group indicating satisfaction with U.S. and Egyptian assurances that peace talks would continue during the truce. "The indications we're getting are people are ready," a diplomat briefed on the matter told The Associated Press. There wass a "big opportunity" to reach an agreement.
The deal, as currently outlined, includes the staggered release of 28 hostages held by Hamas-10 alive and 18 deceased-over the course of the ceasefire. The hostages were among the 251 abducted during Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, which killed 1,200 people. In return, Israel would release Palestinian prisoners and permit expanded humanitarian aid into Gaza.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Israel had accepted the terms needed to finalize the ceasefire, which also includes a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and provisions for uninterrupted aid through the United Nations and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Despite signs of momentum, the core sticking point remains the endgame: Israel has insisted it must retain the right to resume military operations, while Hamas is demanding that any truce lead to a full cessation of hostilities. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the mediators and the U.S. would provide assurances about talks on ending the war, but that Israel was not committing to ending the conflict as part of the current proposal.
Meanwhile, fierce debate erupted within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir denounced the deal as "surrender," warning that halting the war without a definitive victory would embolden Hamas. "What do you think will happen if we stop the war now? That Hamas will hand out flowers?" Ben Gvir said Thursday.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar acknowledged "positive signs" and said the goal was "to begin proximity talks as soon as possible." The government is reportedly considering inviting centrist leader Benny Gantz's Blue and White party into the coalition if far-right factions withdraw in protest over the ceasefire.
The New York Times reported that under the proposed timeline, Hamas would release eight living hostages on the first day of the ceasefire and two more on the final day. The bodies of deceased hostages would be returned in stages between those dates. Hamas has agreed not to stage public celebrations during the handovers, addressing one of Israel's prior objections.
On the ground in Gaza, conditions continue to deteriorate. Israeli strikes Thursday killed 17 people at a school sheltering displaced families, according to medics. "Suddenly, we found the tent collapsing over us and a fire burning," said Wafaa Al-Arqan, a witness. "We don't know what happened. Is it fair that all these children burned?"
The war has displaced most of Gaza's population of over 2 million and left much of the enclave in ruins. More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel's stated goal remains the full dismantling of Hamas's military and political control of the territory.
A source close to Hamas told Asharq al-Awsat that the proposal is largely similar to a framework offered in May by U.S. mediator Steve Witkoff. Trump's recent pressure on Israel to de-escalate during its standoff with Iran has reportedly boosted Hamas's confidence that Washington will enforce any ceasefire terms.
Israeli media reported that if Hamas responds positively, an Israeli delegation will travel to Doha for final negotiations. One potential breakthrough concerns post-war governance: the Egyptian official involved in mediation said the ceasefire plan calls for Gaza to be overseen by a politically unaffiliated Palestinian "Community Support Committee" rather than Hamas. Meanwhile, Qatari mediators have reportedly asked senior Hamas officials abroad to surrender their weapons in a symbolic gesture toward demilitarization.
