Hamas has confirmed it is reviewing “some ideas” from the United States on a possible Gaza ceasefire, raising the prospect of ending weeks of intense conflict. The Palestinian armed group said it was prepared to release the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza in return for a “clear” declaration ending the war.
A senior Palestinian official said that the US plan would see hostages freed within the first 48 hours of a proposed 60-day truce, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and good-faith negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.
The announcement followed a “last warning” from US President Donald Trump, who said on Truth Social that Israel had accepted his terms and urged Hamas to do the same. “Everyone wants the hostages HOME. Everyone wants this war to end! It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” he wrote.
Israel’s government has said it is willing to negotiate a deal ending the war that includes full hostage release and Hamas’s disarmament. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned approximately one million Palestinians in famine-stricken Gaza City to evacuate immediately as Israeli forces intensified air and ground operations. “In the last two days we brought down 50 terrorist high-rises,” he said.
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Hamas emphasized that any agreement must include a “full withdrawal from Gaza” and the formation of a Palestinian-led administrative committee to manage the territory. Humanitarian aid would also flow freely during the truce, according to officials involved in the discussions.
The conflict has caused severe civilian suffering. Hospitals report that Israeli strikes killed at least 40 people in Gaza on Monday, including 25 in Gaza City and northern districts. The Hamas-run health ministry states that more than 64,500 Palestinians have died since the start of the conflict on 7 October 2023, with nearly 400 deaths linked to malnutrition and starvation.
The US-mediated framework aims to provide a path toward a broader settlement, balancing immediate humanitarian relief with longer-term security concerns. Analysts note, however, that acceptance by both sides remains uncertain, particularly given ongoing military operations and stark political demands.
The world continues to watch closely, as any breakthrough could shape the trajectory of a war that has devastated Gaza and left the future of hostages and civilians hanging in the balance.