In a significant development, Hamas has reportedly shown willingness to accept a ceasefire proposal initially put forth by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff three months ago.
This proposal involves the release of half of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day truce. This marks a shift from Hamas's earlier stance, as they had previously dismissed the proposal, which was considered overly ambitious by some Israeli factions.
According to Breitbart News, the original proposal by Witkoff entailed the release of 10 living hostages, approximately half of those still held, along with the bodies of 18 deceased Israeli hostages. In return, it called for a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 125 convicted Palestinian terrorists serving life sentences, the liberation of 1,111 Gaza residents detained during the ongoing conflict, and the resumption of humanitarian aid through the United Nations, excluding the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Recent reports indicate that Hamas has accepted a similar proposal mediated by Egyptian and Qatari officials. This development comes as Israel prepares to advance into Gaza City, the last stronghold of Hamas, and as President Donald Trump predicted on Truth Social that Hamas would face destruction.
The Times of Israel noted that Hamas communicated its acceptance of the ceasefire-hostage release deal to mediators, which involves a 60-day pause and the release of 10 living captives. The proposal also includes the release of the bodies of slain hostages, as mediators work to finalize an agreement before Israel's planned mission to capture Gaza City.
Despite Hamas's acceptance, Israel has yet to respond to the revised proposal, which bears only minor differences from Witkoffs original plan. The Israeli government has acknowledged Hamas's position but emphasized that the terrorist group remains under military pressure. The situation is further complicated by large-scale protests in Israel, where hundreds of thousands have called for a ceasefire and a hostage deal.
This public pressure may compel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consider the proposal, even if it means compromising on the complete eradication of Hamas and accepting a partial hostage deal that leaves some Israelis in captivity.
Israel has maintained a firm stance in recent weeks, asserting that it would only agree to proposals that ensure the release of all hostages simultaneously and conclude the conflict with Hamas's defeat. However, the evolving dynamics and domestic pressures may influence Israel's decision-making process in the coming days.
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