Hamas Accepts Ceasefire Plan, Israel Counters Proposal \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hamas announced it accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, while Israel submitted a counter-plan backed by the U.S. The ceasefire aims to pause fighting and facilitate hostage exchanges and aid delivery. Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza while hostage families demand a deal.
Gaza Ceasefire Talks Quick Looks:
- Hamas agrees to Egypt-Qatar mediated ceasefire proposal
- Israel offers a counter-deal in coordination with U.S.
- Initial deal involved hostage release, prisoner swap, aid
- Israel insists on Hamas disarmament and leadership exile
- Ground assault expands in Rafah as war continues
- Hostage families protest in Tel Aviv, urging a deal
- Over 50,000 dead in Gaza, per Gaza Health Ministry
- War triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack
Deep Look
Efforts to broker a renewed ceasefire in Gaza saw a new development Saturday as Hamas announced it had accepted a proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar — a move that could pave the way for a temporary truce and humanitarian relief in the war-ravaged territory. But the situation remains uncertain, as Israel responded with a counter-proposal crafted in “full coordination” with the United States, reflecting ongoing disagreement over key terms.
Details about the exact terms of the Egyptian-Qatari proposal remain vague, but earlier in the week, an Egyptian official briefed the Associated Press on a framework involving a hostage-for-prisoner exchange. Under that plan, Hamas would release five living hostages, including an American-Israeli citizen, in return for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and agreeing to a weeks-long pause in fighting, during which humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza.
The official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations, did not confirm if the version Hamas accepted on Saturday was modified from this initial outline. Khalil al-Hayyah, a top Hamas official in Gaza, publicly declared acceptance of the deal without elaborating on specific terms.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a brief statement acknowledging Israel’s counter-proposal, offered after internal consultations on Friday. No further details were shared, though the statement emphasized that the counter-offer was created in tandem with U.S. officials, pointing to Washington’s significant involvement in the latest mediation efforts.
The negotiations come amid an intense and increasingly deadly phase of the war. Just over a week ago, Israel abruptly resumed hostilities, launching surprise airstrikes that killed hundreds. The White House later attributed the renewed fighting to Hamas’ failure to engage with previous ceasefire terms. Israel, however, has made clear that it will not end the war until several conditions are met: the return of the remaining hostages—24 of the 59 still believed alive—Hamas’ complete disarmament, the exile of its leadership, and the group’s removal from governance in Gaza.
On Saturday, the Israeli military expanded its ground operations in Rafah, the southern city near Egypt’s border that has become a flashpoint in recent weeks. Despite the humanitarian crisis and the mounting death toll, Israel remains committed to what it describes as the total dismantling of Hamas’ operational infrastructure.
Hamas, meanwhile, continues to demand an end to the war, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the release of remaining hostages. The group has framed the ceasefire as a necessary humanitarian measure but has not signaled any willingness to disband or surrender power.
The impasse continues to generate domestic pressure within Israel, particularly from families of the hostages. On Saturday evening, protesters rallied in Tel Aviv, calling on Netanyahu’s government to reach a deal that would bring the hostages home alive.
“The price of your war is the life of the hostages,” protesters chanted as clashes with police briefly broke out. Naama Weinberg, whose cousin Itay Svirsky was killed in captivity, urged the government to prioritize negotiation over escalation. “War will not bring our hostages home, it will kill them,” she told a crowd gathered in the city’s central plaza.
The conflict was ignited by Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, when armed militants killed approximately 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducted 251 individuals. The brutal incursion prompted a swift and massive military response from Israel.
Since then, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 50,000 people have died due to Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. The figure does not distinguish between combatants and civilians but reflects the overwhelming scale of the humanitarian catastrophe. At the height of the campaign, more than 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents were displaced, and critical infrastructure was left in ruins.
Israel has also used aid restrictions as leverage, completely cutting off supplies earlier this month in an effort to pressure Hamas to accept new ceasefire terms. That blockade remains in place, compounding an already dire situation on the ground.
Ceasefire negotiations originally began after a brief truce in January that saw limited hostage exchanges and a lull in violence. The proposed second phase of the deal was to begin in early February and involve the release of the remaining hostages, the end of hostilities, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, Israel hesitated to enter the next round of talks, citing security concerns and skepticism about Hamas’ intentions.
As international mediators scramble to keep negotiations alive, the next 48 hours could be critical. While Hamas’ acceptance of the Egyptian-Qatari plan signals potential progress, Israel’s insistence on broader strategic goals—including dismantling Hamas entirely—may derail any short-term truce unless significant compromises are made.
For now, the war rages on, with diplomacy hanging in the balance and thousands of lives at risk on both sides of the border.
Hamas Accepts Ceasefire
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