Hamas Responds Positively to US-Brokered Ceasefire Proposal, Israel Mulls Over Response
After a period of intense consultations, Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement in Gaza, has given a positive response to the ceasefire proposal brokered by the United States. The proposal aims to end the 21-month-long conflict in the region. The response from Hamas has fueled hopes for a potential 60-day truce, but Israel is yet to respond publicly to the proposal.
Background of the Conflict
The ongoing conflict has wreaked havoc in Gaza, with the region and its people experiencing immense suffering. Previous attempts at ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have seen temporary halts in the fighting. Such arrangements also facilitated the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Despite these efforts, Israel resumed its offensive against the Palestinian enclave in March 2025.
Hamas's Positive Response
Hamas announced on Friday that it had concluded internal and national consultations regarding the latest ceasefire proposal, and had delivered a positive response. The resistance movement is now ready to immediately and seriously engage
in a new round of negotiations on the implementation mechanism.
Hamas is fully prepared to begin a new round of negotiations on the implementation mechanism,
the group said in a statement. This development comes two days after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire deal.
Israel's Position
Israel, on the other hand, is still mulling its response to Hamas's positive reaction to the ceasefire proposal. No decision has been made yet on that issue,
a government official told AFP anonymously. The Israeli security cabinet was expected to meet after the end of the Jewish Sabbath at sundown on Saturday to discuss the matter.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed his commitment to bringing home all Israeli captives held in Gaza, while Trump has voiced his concern for the safety of the people in Gaza. However, it has been reported that Netanyahu found Hamas's proposals for changes to the draft US-backed ceasefire deal unacceptable.
Implications
The positive response from Hamas has raised hopes for an imminent end to the devastating conflict. However, the final outcome hinges on Israel's response, which is yet to be revealed publicly.
The situation in Gaza remains tense, with Israeli attacks reportedly leaving over 90 dead. As such, the successful implementation of the ceasefire proposal could significantly alleviate the suffering of the people in the region.
Current Status
As of now, Israel is reportedly preparing to send a negotiating team to Qatar to finalise a ceasefire agreement. This decision came after Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal was viewed as a basis for further discussion by the Israeli cabinet.
Palestinians have expressed cautious optimism following Hamas's positive response to the ceasefire proposal. However, they believe that further talks are necessary to discuss the implementation. As the world watches, the next few days could be pivotal in deciding the fate of the embattled Gaza region.