Israel Response

Egypt and Qatar Push Ceasefire Forward, Yet Israel's Response to Hamas Gaza Truce Plan Still Awaited

Hamas accepted a new ceasefire initiative that would suspend the Gaza war for 60 days. Egyptian and Qatari mediators offered the initiative with backing from the United States. On Monday, the organization affirmed its decision, sending its consent through intermediaries in Doha and Cairo.

The ceasefire agreement is akin to a U.S.-supported plan unveiled earlier this year. The deal entails a temporary cease-fire, the release of Israeli hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas would free about half of the hostages still held by it, officials briefed on the negotiations said. Israel would free Palestinian detainees in return.

Israel Yet to Respond as Gaza Crisis Deepens

Egyptian and Qatari diplomats will provide more details in the next few days. They are also scheduling additional negotiations to finalize the truce mechanism and prisoner exchange.

Israel has not yet officially responded. Officials in Jerusalem have received the proposal, but it is still under consideration, according to officials. Netanyahu's government is urged by its ruling coalition to continue military pressure on Hamas. Israeli leaders have continually indicated that they desire the release of all the hostages and the disarmament of Hamas's military capabilities before any eventual agreement.

In the meantime, conditions on the ground in Gaza continue to be critical. Israeli tanks moved deeper into Gaza City on Monday. Locals reported intense shelling and fierce fighting. Thousands of Palestinians have fled neighborhoods that have been shelled. Health authorities and aid agencies report that humanitarian conditions are worsening sharply.

Hostage Families Protest as Gaza Toll Rises

The Gaza Health Ministry says that over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. Thousands more are displaced. Food, medicine, and fuel shortages are typical. Convoys of aid from Egypt and Israel are restricted, and the United Nations has warned of famine in certain regions.

Within Israel, tensions are rising. Families of hostages being held by Hamas organized mass protests calling for a deal to bring their loved ones home. Thousands marched in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in recent days. Protesters criticize the government for procrastinating on negotiations.

International reaction to Hamas’s acceptance has been cautious. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Hamas remains a terrorist organization and warned that any agreement must ensure Israel’s security. He also suggested that destroying Hamas might still be necessary for lasting peace.

Will Israel Accept the Ceasefire Plan or Escalate Fighting?

Arab nations have embraced this development. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani supported the ceasefire proposal. They indicated that the agreement could lead to larger negotiations that tackle long-term stability and reconstruction in Gaza.

Diplomats indicate the future course of action hinges on Israel's response. If Jerusalem cooperates the ceasefire can be implemented within days. If Jerusalem refuses the proposal, fighting is likely to escalate further. Gaza residents are left in limbo at present, brimming with hope and uncertainty as the negotiations linger.