The Palestinian movement Hamas announced on Friday that it had delivered a “positive” response to mediators regarding the Gaza ceasefire proposal, affirming its readiness to immediately begin talks on implementing the agreement, which includes prisoner releases and an end to the war.
The response followed extensive consultations with other Palestinian factions. Hamas reiterated its commitment to ending the aggression and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv had received the response and was reviewing its details. Israeli officials indicated that indirect talks could begin in Doha and might last no more than a day and a half.
Hamas’s reply included demands for guarantees on humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and an extension of the truce.
Islamic Jihad expressed its support for Hamas’s position but called for international guarantees to turn the temporary truce into a permanent ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained his demand for Hamas’s disarmament, while former U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized the priority of hostage releases, expressing optimism about an agreement during his upcoming meeting with Netanyahu in Washington on Monday.
Despite these developments, major challenges remain—particularly regarding the terms of Israel’s withdrawal and the future of Gaza—amid warnings of a worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 192,000 casualties since the war began in October 2023.
