Hamas has submitted a constructive reply to a recently updated ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt, signaling the potential for a ceasefire that could end nearly two years of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian official close to the negotiations confirmed to Reuters that the movement's response was "positive" and could "facilitate reaching a deal."

The response follows the unveiling of what US President Donald Trump labeled a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire, an initiative reportedly rooted in the Witkoff Plan and coordinated with Qatar, Egypt, and the US administration.

According to Israeli reports, the deal includes phased Israeli military withdrawals, the release of captives and bodies, and a framework for extended negotiations toward a permanent agreement.

While "Israel" has not pledged to end its war on Gaza, it has reportedly expressed conditional approval to resume dialogue beyond the initial truce period. Yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained silent, even as pressure mounts from the international community over his government's ongoing destruction of Gaza's infrastructure and refusal to commit to a full ceasefire.

"We have handed the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, our response to the ceasefire proposal," a Hamas official told Reuters. "The Hamas response is positive and I think it should help and facilitate reaching a deal," added another official involved in the talks.

Deal Demands Israeli Exit

The proposed ceasefire would see a phased release of captives held by the resistance, beginning with 8 live captives on the first day and additional releases on days 50 and 60, alongside the return of 18 bodies. In exchange, "Israel" would begin withdrawing its forces from northern and southern Gaza under UN and Red Crescent oversight. Technical teams would work on boundary demarcations, while humanitarian aid would begin flowing immediately.

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Longer-term arrangements, set to begin on day one of the truce, include defining terms for further prisoner exchanges, negotiating a permanent ceasefire, determining Gaza's future security framework, and establishing international guarantees. Mediators would ensure compliance and could extend the truce if substantial progress is made.

Crucially, Hamas has demanded that any agreement must include an end to Israeli aggression, a full military withdrawal from Gaza, and unobstructed humanitarian access, objectives it has described as necessary for justice and Palestinian self-determination.

Hamas confirms it delivered response

Hamas announced it has completed internal consultations as well as discussions with other Palestinian factions regarding the latest ceasefire proposal from international mediators. The group confirmed that it has submitted its official response, which it described as positive, to the mediators involved.

According to the statement, Hamas is ready to immediately engage in serious negotiations on the implementation mechanism of the proposed framework aimed at ending Israeli aggression on Gaza.

Truce Momentum

President Trump confirmed on Friday that the US is waiting for final responses. "We hope it's going to happen," he said. "We want to get the hostages out." Trump is expected to meet Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, though it remains unclear whether the Israeli leadership will endorse the terms, particularly as it continues to demand Hamas's disarmament—an unrealistic condition according to Palestinian officials, given the siege and occupation.

Hamas, for its part, has maintained that it is ready to negotiate in good faith and has held internal consultations to ensure its response reflects Palestinian national priorities.

"Our goal is to secure an agreement that ends the aggression, ensures the occupation's withdrawal, and delivers urgent humanitarian aid to our people," the movement stated.

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As Gaza faces unspeakable devastation and the death toll continues to climb, Hamas's response marks a potential opening—one rooted in a strategic attempt to secure justice and relief for a besieged population.