Hamas negotiators in Cairo have received a new ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza, a Palestinian official disclosed Monday. The initiative comes as key mediators—Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—step up diplomatic efforts to stem the conflict’s destructive toll, which has now stretched over 22 months and plunged Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe.
According to an anonymous Palestinian source speaking to AFP, the proposal represents a framework agreement to open negotiations on a permanent ceasefire. It outlines a 60-day temporary truce coupled with a phased release of hostages as the initial step toward broader peace talks.
The Palestinian official explained that Hamas will convene internal leadership discussions, alongside talks with other Palestinian factions, to review the proposal’s terms. Meanwhile, representatives from Islamic Jihad—another armed group aligned with Hamas—confirmed that the plan includes a two-phase release of hostages and initiation of a broader peace agreement after the truce.
Hamas Engages in Ceasefire Talks as Mediators Push for Peace in Gaza
A senior Islamic Jihad source told AFP: “The proposal involves a 60-day ceasefire, during which 10 Israeli hostages would be released alive, along with a number of bodies… the remaining captives would be released in a second phase, leading to immediate negotiations for a broader, long-term peace deal.”
Out of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 assault, 49 remain in Gaza—27 of whom are believed deceased by Israeli authorities.
Over the weekend, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, traveled to Cairo to support ongoing ceasefire talks. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the mission as an effort to “maximise pressure” on both Palestinian and Israeli leaderships to accept a truce. Abdelatty also underscored the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza—warning that the situation is “beyond imagination,” with famine warnings growing ever more urgent.
Israeli military operations on Monday continued to inflict casualties, with at least 11 deaths reported across Gaza due to strikes and gunfire. Amnesty International condemned Israel for what it called a “deliberate policy of starvation,” accusing the government of systematically undermining Palestinian health and social systems. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly denied intentional starvation, constraining its response to humanitarian agencies’ efforts.
This latest framework echoes an earlier U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal that envisaged a 60-day truce, phased hostage releases, and simultaneous Israeli troop withdrawals with humanitarian corridors in Gaza—while setting a path toward a permanent ceasefire. Both Hamas and Israeli representatives have responded cautiously to the plan, and political divisions remain deep.
Reuters reports the revamped proposal includes staged hostage exchanges and negotiations under U.S. guarantees.
The Guardian confirms that Hamas negotiators received a similar plan in Cairo, with the Qatar PM playing a central facilitating role.
The National adds that Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. are awaiting responses from Israel and Hamas—describing the proposal as a last-minute bid to prevent an imminent Israeli ground offensive on Gaza City.
The path to a lasting ceasefire remains fraught. Israel insists that any agreement must guarantee the release of all remaining hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities. Conversely, Hamas demands an end to hostilities, Israeli troop withdrawal, and humanitarian access—underscoring its refusal to disarm without statehood assurances.
Adding to the tension, domestic pressure within Israel is mounting. Families of hostages and Israeli citizen groups have staged mass protests, demanding a ceasefire and return of loved ones.
With Hamas weighing the new proposal, all eyes are on whether the group will engage in sincere negotiations or reject the offer as insufficient. The framework’s future may hinge on successful consultations among Palestinian factions—and ultimately, on whether Israel reciprocates with flexibility.
As Gaza endures mounting civilian casualties, widespread hunger, and displacement, the urgent need for a ceasefire has never been clearer. Whether this latest diplomatic effort can deliver peace remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the costs of continued war are intolerable.
Source- EWN
