Hamas has reportedly agreed to a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza, according to a source who spoke to AFP on Monday. The Palestinian militant group, along with its allied factions, confirmed that they accepted the plan as presented by mediators, without requesting any amendments.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said Hamas had formally delivered its response to the mediators, signaling a potential pause in hostilities after more than 22 months of intense conflict with Israel.
A separate Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations indicated that mediators were expected to formally announce the agreement and set a date for resuming talks. The plan reportedly includes guarantees for the implementation of the ceasefire and a commitment to follow-up negotiations aimed at establishing a permanent resolution to the ongoing conflict.
So far, there has been no immediate reaction from the Israeli government regarding Hamas’s acceptance of the proposal. The negotiations have been mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States, although previous attempts to secure a lasting ceasefire have repeatedly failed. The war, now in its 23rd month, has caused severe humanitarian crises throughout the Gaza Strip.
An official from Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian militant group allied with Hamas, explained that the plan would involve a 60-day ceasefire. During this period, ten Israeli hostages are expected to be released alive, along with a number of deceased captives.
Remaining hostages would be released in a second phase, accompanied by immediate negotiations for a broader and permanent deal, with international guarantees to ensure compliance.
Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war, 251 hostages were taken. According to the Israeli military, 27 of those hostages are deceased, while 49 remain in Gaza.
The initial Hamas attack killed 1,219 people, predominantly civilians, while Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in more than 62,004 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health ministry figures, which are considered reliable by the United Nations.
This latest agreement could mark a significant step toward de-escalation, though the success of the ceasefire will depend on both sides adhering to the terms and the continued involvement of international mediators.
