Hamas has announced its readiness to begin immediate negotiations for a new ceasefire deal amid intensifying Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, potentially signaling a breakthrough in the 21-month conflict that has devastated the region.
The Palestinian militant group's declaration follows internal consultations with other factions and comes just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's scheduled visit to Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up efforts to end the protracted war.
"The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place" the terms of a draft U.S.-backed truce proposal, Hamas said in a statement. Islamic Jihad, a key Hamas ally, has also expressed support for the negotiations, though it demands "guarantees" that Israel "will not resume its aggression" after hostages held in Gaza are released.
Cautious Optimism from Washington
President Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday, responded with measured optimism: "That's good. They haven't briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza."
The conflict erupted in October 2023 following Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities. Israel's subsequent military campaign has claimed at least 57,268 Palestinian lives, primarily civilians, based on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry that the United Nations considers credible.
New Proposal Details
A source familiar with the current talks revealed that the new proposal outlines a 60-day truce. During this period, Hamas would release approximately half of the remaining Israeli hostages believed to be alive—reportedly around 22 captives—in exchange for Israel freeing an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners.
According to Israeli figures, 251 hostages were captured during the October 2023 attack. Of those, 49 are still held in Gaza, though the Israeli military has declared 27 of them dead.
Violence Continues Despite Diplomatic Efforts
Despite the diplomatic momentum, violence continues to ravage Gaza. On Saturday, civil defence officials reported that 20 people were killed in fresh Israeli attacks across the territory. Spokesman Mahmud Bassal said five casualties resulted from a strike on a school in Gaza City, while a separate attack near another school sheltering displaced civilians claimed three more lives and left approximately 10 others injured, including children.
The agency also reported that 52 people were killed by Israeli fire on Friday alone, highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire.
Two previous ceasefires, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, briefly paused the fighting and facilitated hostage-prisoner exchanges. However, efforts to establish a lasting truce have consistently faltered, with both sides trading blame for past breakdowns in negotiations.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with international organizations warning of catastrophic conditions for civilians caught in the conflict.
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