Hamas has announced that it is currently engaging in discussions with several Palestinian groups regarding a proposed ceasefire in Gaza. This comes as the area continues to face intense Israeli military action for the 22nd consecutive month. On Friday, Hamas revealed that it has begun consultations “with leaders of Palestinian forces and factions concerning the proposal put forth by mediating nations.” They further stated that a definitive decision will be delivered to the mediators following the completion of discussions, after which it will be publicly announced. A source close to Hamas informed Reuters that the organization is seeking assurances that the new ceasefire plan, backed by the United States and still being finalized according to two Israeli officials, will ensure a halt to the conflict and prevent Israel from unilaterally resuming hostilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, anticipates a prompt response from Hamas regarding the acceptance of what he terms a “final proposal” for the ceasefire. “We will see what transpires; we should have clarity within the next 24 hours,” he commented regarding Hamas’s stance on the latest truce framework. On Tuesday, Trump mentioned that Israel had agreed to the terms necessary for establishing a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which efforts would be made to terminate the ongoing conflict. Although the U.S. remains Israel’s key military supplier and diplomatic supporter, Trump expressed his wish “to ensure the safety of the Gaza inhabitants, who have endured severe hardship.” He emphasized his desire for the safety of Gaza’s people over other considerations while speaking to journalists, despite a previous global critique of his February suggestion for U.S. control over Palestinian territories, which was widely condemned as “ethnic cleansing.” A two-month truce had previously ended when Israeli military actions resulted in over 400 Palestinian deaths on March 18, initiating what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as the harshest phase of a brutal conflict.
Over 6,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the breakdown of the truce. Since October 7, 2023, following an offensive by Hamas in southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of around 1,139 individuals, Israeli forces have reportedly caused the deaths of at least 57,130 Palestinians and injured over 130,000. In Gaza, a large number of people have faced repeated displacements, urban centers have been decimated, and essential facilities like hospitals and schools have been targeted. The United Nations reports that now 85 percent of the heavily bombed and besieged region is under Israeli military control.
