CAIRO (AP) — In a significant development, Hamas indicated on Wednesday its openness to a ceasefire agreement with Israel, yet it remains firm on its condition for a complete end to the ongoing war in Gaza. This announcement comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, which Israel has reportedly agreed to, urging Hamas to accept before the situation deteriorates further.
President Trump has been actively pressuring both the Israeli government and Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire and reach a hostage agreement to end the war. He suggested that the 60-day ceasefire period would serve as a window to work towards a permanent resolution, although Israel maintains it will not cease hostilities until Hamas is defeated. Trump expressed optimism that a deal could be reached as early as next week.
However, Hamas’ response, emphasizing its demand for a complete cessation of the war, casts doubt on whether this proposal will lead to an actual pause in the fighting. Taher al-Nunu, a Hamas official, stated that the group is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement” and is willing to consider any initiative that clearly leads to the end of the war.
Stalemate in Ceasefire Negotiations
A Hamas delegation is set to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo to discuss the proposal, according to an Egyptian official who requested anonymity. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long conflict, ceasefire talks have repeatedly stalled over the fundamental issue of whether the war should end as part of any agreement.
Hamas has expressed willingness to release the remaining 50 hostages, of whom less than half are believed to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the conflict. Israel, on the other hand, insists that it will only agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and exiles itself, conditions that Hamas refuses to accept.
Details of the Proposed Ceasefire
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the latest proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire with a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the U.S. would provide assurances about discussions on ending the war, but Israel has not committed to this as part of the current proposal.
It remains unclear how many hostages would be released under the agreement, though previous proposals have suggested the release of about 10. Israel has yet to publicly comment on President Trump’s announcement.
International and Domestic Reactions
On Monday, President Trump is scheduled to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for talks, following discussions between senior Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer and top U.S. officials on Gaza, Iran, and other issues. Trump has also taken to social media to assert that Israel has “agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.”
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump stated.
Despite Trump’s warnings, Hamas remains skeptical, given past ultimatums that have not led to lasting peace. The current situation, however, is seen as a potential turning point in a conflict that has claimed over 56,000 lives in the Palestinian territory. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than half of the deceased are women and children, though it does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Humanitarian Crisis and Historical Context
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, following a militant attack by Hamas on southern Israel, has left Gaza in ruins. The attack resulted in the death of 1,200 people and the capture of approximately 250 hostages. The conflict has displaced over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom have been displaced multiple times, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis marked by widespread hunger.
The international community continues to watch closely as these negotiations unfold, with hopes that a resolution can be reached to bring peace to a region long plagued by conflict.
Bassem Mroue reported from Beirut. Josef Federman contributed to this report from Jerusalem. Follow the AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
