Hamas open to negotiating a comprehensive agreement to halt conflict in Gaza
The Middle East is once again embroiled in conflict, as Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continue negotiations for a comprehensive deal to end the ongoing violence in Gaza.
In January 2025, a ceasefire agreement was reached, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, which initiated a six-week ceasefire with stipulations including hostage releases, Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza, humanitarian aid flow, and plans for negotiations towards a permanent peace and Gaza reconstruction. However, the ceasefire ended on March 18, 2025, when Israel launched surprise airstrikes in response to Hamas refusing to release hostages and rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire, leading Israel to resume full combat operations in Gaza.
As of mid-2025, renewed ceasefire talks are ongoing but face major political, security, and humanitarian challenges without a new formal agreement yet in place. One of the major sticking points remains hostage and prisoner exchanges, with discussions of partial deals from Hamas as of August 2025. Proposed ceasefires involve humanitarian aid increases, releases of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and governance changes in Gaza excluding Hamas.
The broader humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical, with ongoing severe food insecurity and malnutrition exacerbating tensions. The United Nations, Arab League, and Security Council have called emphatically for hostage releases and disarmament of Hamas as prerequisites for a new ceasefire and lasting peace. Political and governance issues around Gaza's administration, Israel’s border control, and the role and legitimacy of any transitional government remain unresolved, complicating ceasefire durability.
The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on both sides. As of Saturday, the death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, rose to 61,639. The total number of people who died due to starvation is 212, including 98 children. The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres's office stated that Israel's decision to take control of Gaza city would lead to more "forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction". This plan could displace about one million people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of plans to reoccupy Gaza, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation, including from Israel's allies. A group of Arab and Muslim states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, have released a joint statement condemning Israel's plan. The foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the UK issued a joint statement warning that Israel's plans risk violating international humanitarian law.
Hamas, on the other hand, has expressed a willingness to reach a ceasefire agreement with Israel. The group has offered "all possible flexibility" through the Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza consider the plan as a "death sentence" for their loved ones. Israeli army chief of staff Eyal Zamir stated that measures will be taken to "safeguard" the captives' lives.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency session to discuss the development. Over a span of 24 hours, 38 more people were killed, bringing the total death toll to over 61,000. The Israeli cabinet has approved a plan to expand military operations into Gaza city, a move that could further escalate the conflict.
The situation in Gaza remains volatile and uncertain, with both sides showing a willingness to negotiate but also a readiness to resort to violence. As the international community watches, renewed efforts are being made to broker a lasting peace and bring an end to the suffering of the people of Gaza.
- Jordan, along with Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, mediated a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.
- In August 2025, Hamas proposed a partial deal for a ceasefire, which involved discussions around hostage and prisoner exchanges.
- The UN Security Council, Arab League, and Security Council have called for hostage releases and Hamas disarmament as prerequisites for a new ceasefire in the conflict involving Israel and Gaza.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza has led to a critical humanitarian situation, with severe food insecurity, malnutrition, and the potential displacement of about one million people.
- The ongoing conflict in Gaza has garnered general-news coverage, with several Arab and Muslim states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, voicing their condemnation of Israel's plan to reoccupy Gaza.
