Hamas has said it responded on Friday “in a positive spirit” to a US-brokered ceasefire proposal for Gaza and expressed readiness to enter fresh talks on implementing the deal, which includes the release of hostages and the beginning of negotiations toward a permanent end to the nearly 21-month conflict with Israel.
The announcement followed President Donald Trump’s unveiling of what he described as a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire. The plan, revealed earlier this week, outlines conditions under which hostilities would temporarily halt, with an aim to lay the groundwork for a lasting resolution.
In a statement posted on its official website Friday evening, Hamas said: “The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly mediators, which was characterised by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework.”
Israeli media reported that the government had received the response and was evaluating it. A senior Israeli official told Channel 12: “Judging by the signals from Hamas, there is a high probability that we will start proximity talks in the next few days. If there is consent to proximity talks, there will be a deal.”
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Hamas leaders were nearing agreement on the terms of the proposal but have sought stronger assurances that any temporary halt in fighting would ultimately lead to a permanent ceasefire. The group has faced severe losses in recent months, with its military infrastructure heavily targeted and key territories lost.
Israel’s recent escalation, an intense wave of airstrikes, has killed more than 250 Palestinians in the past week alone, including significant numbers of women and children, according to medical and civil defence officials in Gaza. Since the breakdown of a previous ceasefire in March, over 6,000 people have been killed, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
Speaking earlier in the week, Trump noted that Israel had already agreed to the conditions required to finalise the proposed ceasefire. When asked whether Hamas had done the same, he replied, “We’ll see what happens. We are going to know over the next 24 hours.”
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to Washington on Sunday to discuss the ceasefire proposal, as well as regional tensions, with President Trump.
Although Netanyahu has long resisted efforts to permanently end the war in Gaza, partly due to the demands of far-right allies within his coalition, Israel’s recent gains in the conflict with Iran have bolstered his domestic support. Opinion polls suggest the Israeli public overwhelmingly favours a ceasefire deal.
Israeli officials told Reuters that preparations were in place to approve the agreement and that a delegation was being assembled to participate in indirect talks, to be mediated by Qatar and Egypt, if Hamas officially consents.
The ceasefire proposal reportedly includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages in Gaza and the return of the remains of 18 more. In return, Israel would release an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas abducted 251 people during the October 2023 attack; fewer than 50 are thought to still be in Gaza, with many believed to have died in captivity.
Under the terms of the deal, humanitarian aid would begin flowing into Gaza immediately, and the Israeli military would initiate a phased withdrawal from certain areas. Negotiations on a permanent ceasefire would begin simultaneously.
US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, expressed cautious optimism: “We sure hope it’s a done deal, but I think it’s all going to be what Hamas is willing to accept. One thing is clear: the president wants it to be over. The prime minister wants it to be over. The American people, the Israeli people, want it to be over.”
A major sticking point throughout negotiations has been humanitarian aid. Israel imposed an 11-week blockade in March, only slightly easing it in May amid mounting international outcry and fears of famine. The delivery of food and medical supplies remains a core demand of Hamas.
However, controversy surrounds the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private aid organisation backed by the US and Israel. While tasked with distributing aid in the besieged territory, the group has been mired in scandal. Multiple reports, including investigations by the BBC and Associated Press, cite former employees claiming civilians were fired upon at GHF distribution sites. One former worker alleged that staff were given no formal rules of engagement and were instructed, “If you feel threatened, shoot to kill and ask questions later.”
The GHF has denied all allegations, stating no civilians were harmed and that their procedures follow international norms. The Israeli military similarly denied targeting civilians, asserting that any shots fired were warning shots.
