Newest Gaza ceasefire proposal almost identical to Witkoff deal: Qatar
3 Min Read
Qatar says Hamas accepted a Gaza ceasefire proposal nearly identical to a US plan, including a 60-day truce and prisoner exchange.
-
Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid packages from the United Arab Emirates, airdropped by parachutes into Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, August 19, 2025 (AP)
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday that the latest ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Hamas has accepted, is “almost identical” to a plan previously put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions announced Monday their approval of the truce initiative presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
According to Reuters, which cited an unnamed Egyptian official, the most recent ceasefire proposal envisions a 60-day pause in military operations, alongside a prisoner exchange that would see Palestinian detainees released in return for half of the Israeli captives.
The Egyptian source added that the proposal outlines a pathway toward reaching a comprehensive agreement to end the war. Hamas has reportedly accepted the terms put forth by the Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Details of new US proposal for Gaza ceasefire
Israeli media outlets have revealed a new US proposal aimed at completely ending the war on the Gaza Strip, outlining a multi-phase plan that would begin with a temporary ceasefire during which negotiations would take place to determine the final stage of the war.
According to details published by the newspaper Israel Hayom, the first phase of the plan includes a 60-day ceasefire alongside a prisoner exchange deal, under which 10 living Israeli prisoners would be released and the bodies of 18 others would be handed over, in exchange for the release of over 1,200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including some serving life sentences.
According to the plan, the second phase aims to achieve a complete and permanent cessation of hostilities, while the final phase would involve placing Gaza under an internationally backed administration led by the US, with priority given to reconstruction efforts.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for certain aspects of the proposal but reiterated "Israel's" longstanding conditions, including "the disarmament of Hamas," maintaining Israeli security control over the territory, and establishing an alternative civilian administration.
