Hamas Accepts New Ceasefire Proposal in Gaza Conflict, Renewing Negotiations Amidst Israeli Escalation Threat

Hamas has agreed to a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza, following negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt. The militant group announced its acceptance of the proposal on Sunday, with a senior member of Hamas’ political bureau stating that they hope the agreement will bring an end to the ongoing conflict.

According to sources, Israel has received the Hamas response to the ceasefire plan from mediators. However, the Israeli government maintains its position, which includes demands for the release of hostages, disarmament of Hamas, and control over besieged territories.

The new proposal serves as a renewed effort by mediators to reinitiate negotiations that stalled in July, aiming to halt the violence that has persisted for months. Despite this development, the conflict appears far from resolution, with Israel’s security cabinet recently voting to intensify the military operations and potentially occupy Gaza City.

The proposed agreement adheres closely to the last ceasefire plan discussed prior to the negotiations’ collapse in July. The proposal calls for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages, in exchange for the freedom of 140 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 60 serving sentences of more than 15 years. Israel will also reportedly release all Palestinian minors and female prisoners under this agreement.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators have allegedly secured a significant breakthrough, preserving 98% of the last proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel had previously agreed to. The mediators exerted pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal in an attempt to avoid further military escalation and mitigate the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The ceasefire agreement would involve a temporary halt in Israeli operations, allowing for the deployment of humanitarian aid to address the basic needs of the population in Gaza during this period. This step marks the beginning of negotiations towards a comprehensive solution.

A second diplomatic source involved in the negotiations confirmed that Egypt and Qatar have extended an invitation to Steve Witkoff to travel to Cairo for further discussions regarding the ceasefire proposal. Qatari Prime Minister and minister of foreign affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, has arrived in Egypt for talks on the matter.

The negotiations have faced significant challenges in the past, particularly regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages, the size of the Israeli buffer zone around Gaza, and the extent of the Israeli withdrawal during the ceasefire. Hamas has also demanded a comprehensive end to the conflict, which Israel has thus far refused.

The US and Israel have expressed hardened positions, only accepting a comprehensive deal instead of a partial agreement, following the failure of previous negotiations. On Monday, US President Donald Trump posted on social media that “We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to comment publicly on whether he will consider the new proposal. In the past, he has insisted that Israel would only agree to a comprehensive deal that achieves his maximalist positions, including the disarmament of Hamas, which has been a red line for the militant organization.

The renewed ceasefire proposal comes following mass demonstrations in Tel Aviv and across Israel on Sunday, calling for an end to the conflict and the release of the remaining hostages. The Israeli government may face pressure from both political allies and opponents as they consider the proposed agreement.