Hamas said on Saturday it had agreed to a new ceasefire plan put forward by mediators from Egypt and Qatar.
The plan aimed to stop the fighting in Gaza, ease the humanitarian crisis, and secure the release of hostages. But shortly after the announcement, Israel said it had a new set of suggestions, created in close contact with the United States. The situation remains uncertain, with both sides still far from a final deal.
The announcement came after days of rising tensions and renewed attacks. Egypt had earlier shared a proposal that included a short pause in the fighting, the release of hostages held in Gaza, and more aid for people affected by the war. In return, Israel would release a large group of Palestinian prisoners. A leader from Hamas confirmed that they agreed to the plan, though it is still not clear if the offer they accepted was changed before being made public.
Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded by submitting new terms of its own. No details have been released about what those new terms include. However, Israeli officials said their suggestions were prepared with the involvement of American mediators. The proposal was sent after Netanyahu held talks with top leaders late Friday.
The war has been going on since October last year, when Hamas fighters crossed into Israel and killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians. More than 250 people were taken hostage. Israel then began a military campaign in Gaza. Since then, over 50,000 people have been killed, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Many of them were civilians, and large parts of the region have been destroyed. Almost the entire population of over 2 million has been forced to flee their homes.
Fighting has grown worse again in the southern city of Rafah, near Egypt’s border, where Israeli forces say Hamas still has a presence. The military says it recently found signs linked to the body of an Israeli hostage, but the remains are still believed to be in Gaza. The hospital in Rafah where this took place has also been damaged and is no longer working, making conditions even more difficult for civilians trapped in the area.
Many families in Israel have become more vocal in recent days, demanding that leaders find a way to bring back the hostages alive. Large protests have taken place in Tel Aviv and other cities, with people calling for a deal that would end the war and return the captives. Some family members say they fear the longer the war goes on, the less chance their loved ones have of surviving.
The talks between the different sides have gone on for months but have faced many setbacks. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been trying to find common ground, but disagreements remain. Hamas says it will only agree to a full ceasefire if Israel pulls its troops out of Gaza and allows a swap of prisoners. Israel wants all hostages back first and for Hamas to give up its weapons and power in the region.
So far, nothing has been finalized. The acceptance of the latest offer by Hamas and Israel’s response give some hope, but it’s still unclear whether this will lead to a real truce. For now, the people in Gaza and the families of hostages continue to wait, hoping for a deal that will finally bring some relief.