Hamas announced on Sunday that it has agreed to a new Gaza ceasefire proposal, signaling a potential breakthrough in stalled negotiations as international mediators race to avert a major Israeli military operation in Gaza City.
In a statement, the militant group confirmed its acceptance of a new proposal presented by mediators from Qatar and Egypt. Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, stated on social media, “The movement has accepted the new proposal from the mediators. We pray that God extinguishes the fires of this war on our people.”
Two Israeli officials confirmed to CNN that they had received the Hamas response. While one official stated that Israel’s position has not changed—stressing the need for the release of all hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and Israeli security control of the territory—the new development has reignited hopes for a de-escalation.
The new proposal closely mirrors a previous plan that fell apart in July, which had dashed hopes for an end to the conflict. A senior Hamas official told CNN that the new agreement calls for the release of 10 living and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for a significant number of Palestinian prisoners. This includes 140 inmates serving life sentences and 60 serving sentences longer than 15 years. Additionally, Israel would release all Palestinian minors and female prisoners.
A diplomat briefed on the negotiations revealed that Qatari and Egyptian mediators managed to secure a breakthrough that retains 98% of the last proposal, which Israel had previously agreed to. The proposal entails a temporary ceasefire, during which Israeli forces would redeploy, and humanitarian aid would be significantly increased for the people of Gaza.
According to a regional source involved in the talks, Hamas is insisting on “written American guarantees” for a ceasefire after 60 days, seeking assurances that Israel will not resume military operations.
The renewed diplomatic push comes after Israel’s security cabinet recently voted to escalate the conflict and occupy Gaza City. This move has put immense pressure on mediators to secure a deal and prevent a further humanitarian crisis.
In a show of renewed commitment, Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani arrived in Egypt on Monday for discussions. This follows a meeting between Qatari officials and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Spain last weekend.
Prior to the collapse of the last round of talks, key sticking points included the number of prisoners to be exchanged, the size of a buffer zone around Gaza, and the scope of an Israeli withdrawal. Hamas has consistently demanded a comprehensive end to the war, a condition Israel has refused to meet.
Both U.S. and Israeli leaders have recently hardened their public positions. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that the remaining hostages would only be returned once “Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!” Similarly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that any agreement must include the disarmament of Hamas, a red line for the militant group.
The new proposal now sets the stage for a critical period of negotiation, with mediators working to bridge the gap between two sides whose leaders have publicly taken maximalist stances.
