Hamas Accepts New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal Amid Rising Humanitarian Concerns

Hamas has formally accepted a fresh ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip, a senior official confirmed on Monday, following renewed diplomatic efforts to end more than 22 months of conflict.

Mediators Egypt and Qatar, with backing from the United States, have been attempting to secure a lasting truce in the territory, which continues to face a severe humanitarian crisis.

“The movement has submitted its response, agreeing to the mediators’ new proposal. We pray to God to extinguish the fire of this war on our people,” said senior Hamas official Bassem Naim on Facebook.

Earlier, a Hamas source told AFP that the group accepted the proposal “without requesting any amendments.”

Egyptian authorities confirmed that the proposal had been forwarded to Israel, stating: “the ball is now in its court.” Israel has yet to respond.

A Palestinian source involved in the talks indicated that mediators are expected to announce a formal agreement and set a date for resuming negotiations, with guarantees to ensure the implementation of a truce and a permanent resolution.

According to Egyptian state-linked outlet Al-Qahera, the proposed agreement includes:

The proposal follows Israel’s recent approval of plans to capture Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, a move that has drawn both international criticism and domestic opposition.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 attack that triggered the current conflict, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 that the Israeli military has declared deceased.

An Islamic Jihad source said:“The remaining captives would be released in a second phase,” adding that negotiations for a broader settlement would follow.

All Palestinian factions reportedly support the Egyptian-Qatari initiative.

US President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social, writing: “We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will only agree to an agreement in which all hostages are released simultaneously, under Israeli conditions for ending the war.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, visiting the Rafah border crossing on Monday, confirmed that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was present to consolidate joint efforts and apply maximum pressure on both sides to reach a deal swiftly.

“The current situation on the ground is beyond imagination,” Abdelatty said, highlighting the plight of over two million residents in Gaza facing famine warnings from UN agencies and aid organisations.

Egypt expressed willingness to join a potential international force deployed to Gaza, provided it is backed by a UN Security Council resolution and a clear political horizon.

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 20 fatalities across the territory on Monday, including six in the south.

The Israeli military, when contacted by AFP, denied awareness of casualties resulting from IDF fire in the areas cited.

Media restrictions and limited access across Gaza prevent independent verification of casualties and events reported by both the civil defence agency and the Israeli military.

Eyewitnesses described heavy fire on residential areas, including the Zeitoun and al-Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City, with tanks and heavy artillery targeting the regions.

Amnesty International has accused Israel of a “deliberate policy” of starvation and systematically undermining Palestinian health, well-being, and social life. Israel denies these claims while maintaining strict restrictions on aid entering Gaza.

The October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel resulted in 1,219 deaths, primarily civilians, according to AFP calculations based on official figures.

Since then, Israel’s military offensive has killed over 62,004 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which the United Nations considers a reliable source.

The development represents the latest effort by international mediators to bring both sides to the negotiation table, amid escalating humanitarian and military pressures on the Gaza Strip.