Hamas has signalled openness to a new ceasefire in Gaza, though it has stopped short of endorsing the latest American-backed proposal unveiled by US President Donald Trump. The group maintained that any agreement must lead to a full end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the besieged enclave.
On July 1, Trump announced that Israel had agreed in principle to the terms of a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions deteriorate further. "Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalise the 60-day ceasefire," he posted on social media, adding that the pause would be used to work towards ending the war with the help of mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
According to Israeli officials, the new proposal includes stronger guarantees that all parties will continue negotiating during the two-month truce until a broader agreement is reached. These provisions go beyond the terms of a previous deal offered in May. Israel, for its part, informed US negotiators that it had accepted “conditions to finalise” the truce.
Hamas responded cautiously yesterday, saying it had received the proposal and was engaged in talks with mediators to “bridge gaps” and return to the negotiating table. The group reiterated that it seeks an agreement that would bring a complete halt to hostilities and result in Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas has indicated willingness to release the remaining 50 hostages—fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive—but only in exchange for an end to the war.
Israel, however, insists the war will continue until Hamas surrenders, disarms and agrees to exile its leadership, demands that Hamas has firmly rejected. “There will be no Hamas,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a speech yesterday. He later repeated the assertion, stating that Gaza’s future would not include the Islamist group in any form. Israeli officials have warned that the military will escalate its operations in Gaza if ceasefire talks do not progress soon. “We’ll do to Gaza City and the central camps what we did to Rafah. Everything will turn to dust,” a senior Israeli official was quoted as saying by the US-based outlet Axios.
The war, which began in October 2023 after Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel has since claimed more than 56,000 lives in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry. Two brief ceasefires have taken place since, each resulting in prisoner exchanges. The last truce in March saw Hamas release 30 hostages and the bodies of eight more, while Israel freed more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners.
Despite the high stakes, moving forward with the new ceasefire could have political consequences for Netanyahu. His far-right coalition partners remain firmly opposed to ending the war, with some calling for indefinite Israeli control over Gaza. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have yet to publicly support the US-backed plan.
Still, there are growing signs of division within the government. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said a deal to free hostages would enjoy broad support both in the cabinet and among the public. "Any opportunity to free captives held in Gaza should not be missed," he posted on social media. In response, another minister, Amichai Chikli, noted that the proposal had not yet been formally presented to the government.
Some analysts believe that Netanyahu, buoyed by what many Israelis view as a successful confrontation with Iran, may now be positioned to change course. Once viewed as politically vulnerable after the October 7 attacks, Netanyahu now commands greater support than at any point since the war began. That shift could encourage him to defy his hardline allies. Ending the Gaza war could also pave the way for deeper diplomatic engagement with neighbouring Arab states, an outcome long sought by both the US and Israel.
Trump, meanwhile, has ramped up efforts to broker a resolution. He told reporters on Tuesday that he would be “very firm” with Netanyahu in their upcoming White House meeting. “He wants to [end the war]. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said.
Still, serious obstacles remain. Hamas has consistently demanded a permanent ceasefire and insists on remaining part of post-war Gaza governance—terms Israel refuses. A source familiar with the talks confirmed that Hamas’s demands are unchanged and questioned whether the group would settle for only a temporary truce.
Even so, the possibility of renewed negotiations has injected a glimmer of hope into a conflict that has devastated Gaza and shaken Israel’s political foundations. Whether that hope translates into a sustained ceasefire will depend on whether both sides are willing to make compromises they have so far resisted.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing the Israeli public on June 29, hinted at the diplomatic possibilities ahead. "Many opportunities have opened up following our successful action against Iran," he said. "Among them, a real chance to return our hostages. We will not miss any opportunity to bring them home."