Gaza City (Web Desk/Agencies): Hamas has agreed to a newly proposed ceasefire deal aimed at halting the prolonged conflict in Gaza, a source within the group told an international news agency on Monday.
The militant faction accepted the terms presented by mediators without seeking any modifications, indicating a willingness to move forward with negotiations after nearly 22 months of war.
The ceasefire initiative, crafted by Egypt and Qatar with support from the United States, is the latest effort to end the violence that has devastated Gaza and sparked a deepening humanitarian crisis. The proposal, which outlines a temporary truce and hostage exchange, has not yet received an official response from Israel.
According to a Palestinian official familiar with the discussions, the mediators are expected to confirm that a breakthrough has been achieved and will soon announce a timeline for resuming formal negotiations. Guarantees have reportedly been put in place to help enforce the agreement and pave the way for talks on a lasting resolution.
Details from an Islamic Jihad source revealed that the plan includes a 60-day pause in hostilities. During this period, ten Israeli hostages would be released alive, along with several of the bodies of captives who have died in Gaza. The remaining hostages, the source said, would be released in a subsequent phase. All major Palestinian factions are said to be in favor of the Egyptian-Qatari proposal.
Of the 251 hostages captured during Hamas’s October 2023 incursion into Israel, 49 are believed to remain in Gaza. The Israeli military has confirmed that at least 27 of those are presumed dead.
Despite the apparent progress, some prominent voices remain skeptical. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, writing on Truth Social, insisted that the only path to securing the hostages’ return lies in the complete dismantling of Hamas. He emphasized that delaying such action would reduce the chances of success.
Israel’s stance has remained firm. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently reiterated that his government would only support an agreement in which all hostages are released simultaneously and on terms favorable to Israel, conditions he sees as essential for ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, scenes of grief and loss continue to unfold in Gaza. In the southern city of Khan Yunis, mourners gathered around the bodies of family members killed while attempting to obtain humanitarian aid. These tragic images underscore the urgency of diplomatic efforts, particularly as famine and disease threaten millions in the enclave.
During a visit to the Rafah border crossing, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty highlighted the critical need for swift action. He confirmed that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had joined efforts to exert maximum pressure on both parties to reach a deal. Abdelatty also stated that Egypt is open to contributing troops to an international stabilization force in Gaza, but only under the framework of a UN Security Council mandate and in tandem with a clear political plan for the future.
On the ground, Gaza’s civil defence authority reported that Israeli military actions killed at least 11 people on Monday, including six in the southern region. The Israeli army, contacted for comment, stated it had no knowledge of casualties resulting from its operations in those areas. Independent verification remains difficult due to restricted media access and the limited reach of humanitarian organizations within Gaza.
At the same time, international human rights watchdog Amnesty International accused Israel of employing a deliberate strategy to starve Gaza’s population and systematically dismantle Palestinian society. The Israeli government, while maintaining tight control over aid deliveries, has consistently denied such accusations and insists it does not intentionally target civilians.
The war, ignited by Hamas’s surprise assault last October which left 1,219 people in Israel dead—mostly civilians—has since escalated into one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in the region’s history. According to the health ministry in Hamas-administered Gaza, more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority of them non-combatants.
As the world waits for Israel’s official response to the ceasefire offer, the situation on the ground remains dire. Whether this latest diplomatic push will mark a turning point or fall into the pattern of failed attempts remains to be seen.