Hamas announced on Friday that it had delivered a response “in a positive spirit” to a US-brokered proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and expressed readiness to begin talks on putting the deal into effect, which includes the release of hostages and broader efforts to end the conflict.
US President Donald Trump recently presented what he called a final proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in the nearly 21-month-long war between Israel and Hamas, saying he expected a reply soon from both sides.
In a statement on its official website, Hamas said it had completed internal discussions and consultations with other Palestinian factions regarding the plan and submitted its reply to mediators, “characterised by a positive spirit.” The group stated it is fully prepared to engage in negotiations on how to implement the framework.
However, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas noted ongoing concerns about the flow of humanitarian aid, access through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, and the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawals.
Trump earlier said that Israel had agreed to “the necessary conditions to finalise” a 60-day ceasefire, during which broader efforts would be pursued to end the war in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is expected to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment publicly, and differences remain, especially over Netanyahu’s demand that Hamas must disarm, a point Hamas continues to reject.
Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, expressed cautious optimism after hearing Hamas had submitted a positive response, saying, “There could be a Gaza deal next week.” He also stressed he would press Netanyahu for a swift ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours killed at least 138 Palestinians, including 15 people in a tent camp near Khan Younis. In Tel Aviv, families of hostages gathered outside the US embassy on Independence Day, urging Trump to secure an agreement to bring their loved ones home.
The proposed deal includes returning 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others over the ceasefire period. In Gaza, the war has displaced most of the population of over 2 million and left more than 57,000 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians, according to local health authorities.
