Hamas on Wednesday indicated it is open to a ceasefire with Israel but reiterated that any agreement must include a full and permanent end to the war in Gaza. The group stopped short of accepting a new U.S.-backed proposal presented earlier by President Donald Trump.
In remarks on Tuesday, Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire plan and urged Hamas to accept the terms swiftly, warning that conditions on the ground could worsen if no deal is reached. He also emphasized that the pause could serve as a step toward a broader resolution to the conflict — though Israel maintains it won’t agree to end the war unless Hamas is dismantled.
Hamas’ response was cautiously positive but underscored its core demand: a complete cessation of hostilities.
“We are ready and serious about reaching an agreement,” said Hamas spokesperson Taher al-Nunu. “But we will only accept a deal that clearly leads to a full end to the war.”
An Egyptian official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the talks, confirmed that a Hamas delegation would meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the offer.
Ongoing Disagreements Over Ending the War
Disagreements over how and when to end the nearly 21-month conflict have repeatedly stalled peace negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
Hamas has said it is willing to release the remaining hostages — estimated at around 50, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive — in return for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza and a formal end to the war.
Israel, meanwhile, insists the war can only end if Hamas agrees to disarm, surrender, and leave Gaza — conditions the group has rejected outright.
According to an Israeli official familiar with the latest proposal, the current plan includes a 60-day truce, a limited Israeli pullback from Gaza, and increased humanitarian aid. While the U.S. and regional mediators would offer guarantees that discussions toward ending the war would continue, Israel has not committed to any formal resolution as part of the deal.
The number of hostages to be released under the deal remains unclear, though earlier proposals have mentioned freeing around 10 captives. The Israeli official also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Israel has yet to officially respond to Trump’s announcement. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Monday. The visit follows talks last week between Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer and senior U.S. officials on issues related to Gaza and Iran.
Trump Issues Stark Warning to Hamas
In a post on social media Tuesday, Trump said Israel had “agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE,” and warned Hamas not to miss this opportunity.
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump wrote.
Hamas has previously met such ultimatums with skepticism. Trump has issued similar warnings in the past, including during the lead-up to the end of the war’s longest pause in March, without achieving a long-term truce.
Despite the uncertainty, Trump views the current proposal as a possible breakthrough in a war that has devastated Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its figures, over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed — more than half of them women and children.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting approximately 250.
Since then, the war has reduced large parts of Gaza to rubble, displacing over 90% of its 2.3 million residents — many more than once. The humanitarian crisis has intensified, leaving hundreds of thousands facing food insecurity and worsening conditions by the day.