GAZA: Hamas is seeking firm guarantees that a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal will lead to a complete end of the war, as Israel continues its intense military campaign in Gaza, killing dozens more on Thursday.
A source close to Hamas confirmed the group is reviewing the latest truce offer and consulting with other Palestinian factions. Hamas wants assurances that the proposed 60-day ceasefire will transition into a permanent cessation of hostilities.
This comes as Israeli officials say prospects for a deal are improving, nearly 21 months after the war began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza.
Despite diplomatic progress, violence on the ground has surged. Gaza’s health authorities reported at least 59 deaths on Thursday, including 20 killed near an aid distribution site and 17 in a strike on a Gaza City school. The Israeli military said it targeted a Hamas gunman, claiming it took steps to minimize civilian casualties.
"Suddenly, we found the tent collapsing over us and a fire burning," said Wafaa Al-Arqan, a survivor at the school. “What can we do? Is it fair that all these children burned?”
The ceasefire proposal includes the staggered release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It also outlines immediate humanitarian aid entry and phased Israeli military withdrawal from parts of Gaza, followed by talks on a permanent ceasefire.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel has accepted the proposal’s terms. “The president wants it to be over. The prime minister wants it to be over. The American and Israeli people want it to be over,” said U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Talks are ongoing with Egyptian and Qatari mediators seeking international guarantees. If Hamas accepts the deal, Israel is expected to join indirect negotiations to finalize the terms.
The war has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, displaced millions, and devastated Gaza. Israel insists it will not end the war until Hamas is disarmed. Hamas, though weakened, says it will only release all hostages if the war is permanently halted.
