Published on 18/08/2025
Hamas has informed mediators that it has approved the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal and is ready to resume negotiations after Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss ending Israel’s war on Gaza.
A Hamas source told media on Monday: “We informed the mediators of our approval of their proposal, which was presented yesterday.”
Palestinian group tells mediators it approves latest Gaza ceasefire proposal and is ready to resume talks.
A source familiar with the talks told media the proposal included a temporary cessation of military operations for 60 days, during which the Israeli army would relocate to allow the entry of humanitarian aid.
Half of the 50 Israeli captives would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners within the same timeframe.
The source said the new proposal “marks the beginning of the path to a comprehensive solution.”
But judging by the failed trajectory of past talks, the announcement does not necessarily mean an end to the war is imminent.
Over the past two years, Hamas has accepted proposals for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners only for Israel to reject them and insist on continuing the war.
The major sticking point has been the duration of the ceasefire. Hamas wants a permanent end to the war, but Israel has been seeking a temporary truce that would allow it to resume its destruction and displacement campaign in Gaza after its captives in the territory are released.
Israel is pushing ahead with plans to seize Gaza City, bombarding the enclave’s once biggest and thriving urban centre as it plans to forcibly displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians there.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke with the defence minister and the chief of staff about plans for Gaza City “and the completion of our missions.” They concluded that “Hamas is under atomic pressure,” he said.
