Report: Hamas receives new ceasefire proposal

Hamas negotiators in Cairo have been handed a fresh ceasefire proposal aimed at halting the devastating war in Gaza, a senior Palestinian official confirmed on Monday. The development comes as Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, traveled to Egypt to reinforce mediation efforts alongside Cairo and Washington.

The conflict, now stretching past 22 months, has left the Gaza Strip on the brink of collapse, with international agencies warning of famine and a total breakdown of basic services.

Details of the New Proposal

According to a Palestinian official speaking on condition of anonymity, mediators have drafted a framework agreement designed to pave the way for a permanent ceasefire. The plan reportedly begins with a 60-day truce and a two-phase release of hostages.

In the first stage, 10 Israeli captives would be freed alive, along with the return of several bodies. The second stage would focus on releasing the remaining hostages and opening negotiations for a comprehensive settlement to end the war with international guarantees.

Islamic Jihad, an ally of Hamas in Gaza, confirmed its awareness of the proposal. A representative told AFP that all factions welcomed the plan, indicating rare internal alignment among Palestinian groups. Out of the 251 hostages abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel, 49 remain in Gaza—27 of whom are confirmed dead, according to the Israeli military.

Mediation Efforts Intensify

Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, visited the Rafah crossing on Monday and emphasized the urgency of finding common ground. “The current situation on the ground is beyond imagination,” he warned, pointing to the deteriorating humanitarian situation faced by more than two million Palestinians.

Abdelatty also noted that Qatar’s prime minister was in Egypt to “consolidate joint efforts and apply maximum pressure on both sides to reach an agreement quickly.” The visit underscores the growing international recognition that the conflict cannot be contained without a negotiated truce.

Humanitarian Toll and Allegations

Even as talks unfolded, violence continued in Gaza. The enclave’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 11 people on Monday. Media restrictions and limited access mean independent verification remains difficult.

At the same time, Amnesty International accused Israel of pursuing a “deliberate policy of starvation”, systematically dismantling Palestinian life by blocking aid and crippling Gaza’s health system. Israel has consistently rejected accusations of intentional starvation, though it has tightly limited aid deliveries.

The humanitarian impact of the war has been catastrophic. Hamas’s October 2023 attack killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official counts. In response, Israel launched a sweeping offensive that has since killed over 61,900 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures deemed credible by the United Nations.

What This Means Going Forward

While the proposed deal offers a structured path toward peace, major obstacles remain. Israel has not publicly endorsed the plan, and its government remains divided on how to approach long-term governance of Gaza. Hamas, meanwhile, must consult internally and with other factions before formally responding.

Still, the alignment of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States signals one of the most coordinated diplomatic pushes in months. Whether the current effort will succeed where others have failed may depend on the ability of mediators to bridge deep mistrust and address both humanitarian and security concerns.

For now, the people of Gaza remain caught between negotiations and airstrikes, their future hinging on whether the 60-day truce can be the first step toward an enduring ceasefire.