Hamas expresses approval for the suggested implementation of a fresh truce
A proposed 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas is gaining traction, marking a significant step towards ending the ongoing conflict. The agreement, which includes provisions for hostage release, humanitarian aid access, and negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire, has been mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
The hostage release component of the agreement stipulates that Hamas would free ten living Israeli hostages and return the remains of eighteen deceased Israelis over the course of the 60-day period. These releases would occur in five separate phases, a departure from previous plans that aimed for release within the first week. Notably, Hamas would not be permitted to hold televised ceremonies or publicize the handover events, a measure intended to avoid the controversial broadcasts seen in earlier hostage exchanges.
In exchange for the hostage and remains, Israel would free an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners, though details regarding the number and identities remain undisclosed. Hamas, however, demands that the United Nations resume control over the humanitarian aid delivery system in Gaza, excluding the Israel- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund from managing aid. Additionally, Hamas wants the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw to the positions they held before the ceasefire collapsed in March 2025, a demand that Israel has rejected.
The ceasefire agreement also includes provisions for indirect negotiations during the 60 days on the conditions for a permanent end to the war. The mediators have committed to potentially extend the ceasefire beyond 60 days if additional time is needed to finalize a lasting agreement.
The Islamic Jihad, affiliated with Hamas, has voiced support for the talks on a ceasefire but has also made demands. They are seeking guarantees that Israel will not resume hostilities once the hostages are released. The exact conditions of the new ceasefire proposal by the mediators are still unclear.
High-ranking former Israeli military officers, including those from the Commanders for Israel's Security (CSI), have called for an end to the Gaza war. The CSI, a group that includes over 550 former officers of the military, police, and intelligence services, claims that the Israeli military has fulfilled its dual task of dismantling the Hamas government and destroying its military capabilities, and that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel.
The CSI's call for an end to the Gaza war comes before the planned trip of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington next week. The exact conditions of the new ceasefire proposal by the mediators are still unclear, and clarification is needed regarding the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
Unhindered access for humanitarian aid to the sealed coastal region of Gaza remains an issue, with Hamas ready to immediately enter indirect negotiations to implement this proposal. The new ceasefire proposal by the mediators includes the release of at least ten living hostages and the handover of the bodies of eighteen abducted persons in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
As international mediation efforts continue, the proposed ceasefire represents the most concrete progress in weeks towards ending the conflict. The success of the ceasefire will depend on the willingness of both parties to adhere to the agreed terms and to engage in meaningful negotiations towards a permanent end to the war.
- The agreement, which involves the release of ten living Israeli hostages and the remains of eighteen deceased Israelis by Hamas, will be part of the general news, as it pertains to the ongoing politics and war-and-conflicts in the Gaza Strip.
- Other parties involved in the conflict, such as the Islamic Jihad, have voiced support for the proposed ceasefire, but are seeking guarantees that other war-and-conflicts won't resume once the hostages are released. These demands, along with other provisions, are still under negotiation and contribute to the general news and politics surrounding the situation.
