Hamas apparently accepts 60-day ceasefire with Israel - they "reacted positively"

The Islamist Hamas has reportedly submitted a "positive response" to international mediators to a new ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip . This was initially confirmed by an official of the terrorist organization. Hamas later announced on Telegram that the organization had expressed its support for a proposal submitted by Egypt and Qatar. Details of the content were not immediately available. Israeli media reported, citing a high-ranking official, that Israel had received the latest proposal.

The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas—mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar—had stalled again at the end of July. According to Israeli and American accounts, Hamas derailed the negotiations with excessive demands. The US and Israeli delegations were subsequently recalled to their respective capitals for consultations. Since then, there has been no progress.

A proposal by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for a 60-day ceasefire was recently on the negotiating table. According to Israeli media reports, the latest proposal from Egyptian and Qatari mediators is an updated version. According to this proposal, ten live hostages and the bodies of 18 abductees are to be released during the 60-day period in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

There are still 50 hostages in the Gaza Strip, of whom at least 20 are believed to be alive. Hamas terrorists and other Islamists kidnapped more than 250 people from Israel to Gaza in their terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed.

Just over a week ago, Israel's security cabinet decided to expand the Gaza war. The plan calls for the capture of Gaza City and key refugee camps to crush Hamas. Media speculated that the announcement could be a negotiating tactic to put massive pressure on Hamas to return to the negotiating table and show more flexibility. Since then, efforts to secure a ceasefire in the nearly two-year-old Gaza war have been underway in the background.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message that he had heard media reports about a "positive response" from Hamas. One can only draw one impression from them: Hamas is under enormous pressure.

Israeli media had reported in recent days that the head of government was only willing to accept an agreement if it included the release of all remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip and an end to the war on Israeli terms.