Hamas said it has agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal made by mediators Egypt and Qatar, which includes releasing 5 hostages each week.
On the other hand, Israel said it has submitted a counter-proposal to the mediators in full coordination with the US. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, pledged to increase pressure on Hamas, amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
Hamas Acceptance
On Saturday, Hamas leader, Khalil Al-Hayya, said that the Palestinian group responded positively to the new ceasefire proposal, reported Reuters. “Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and accepted it,” he said in a televised address.
“We hope that the (Israeli) occupation will not undermine (it),” added Al-Hayya, who leads the negotiating team of Hamas in the indirect talks that aim to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
Al-Hayya ruled out laying down arms as Israel and the US demanded, saying that Hamas’ arsenal was a red line and that it would not disarm as long as the “Israeli occupation” exists.
New Ceasefire Proposal
Under the new ceasefire proposal, Hamas would release 5 Israeli hostages each week, while Israel would move forward with the second phase of the original ceasefire agreement after the first week, security sources told Reuters.
Moreover, the proposal outlines a timeline for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, supported by US guarantees, in return for releasing the remaining hostages.
The proposal also involves Israel allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, pausing fighting for a week, and releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the Associated Press (AP) reported citing an Egyptian official.
Israeli Counter-Proposal
In response to the new ceasefire proposal, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said that, after a series of consultations, Israel had submitted to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the US.
On Sunday, Netanyahu pledged to increase pressure on Hamas while resuming negotiations to release hostages. “We are conducting it under fire, and therefore it is also effective,” he said.
Netanyahu also said that Israel will work to implement the “voluntary emigration” plan floated by the US President, Donald Trump. “We will ensure general security in the Gaza Strip and enable the implementation of the Trump plan, the voluntary emigration plan. That is the plan, we do not hide it, we are ready to discuss it at any time,” he said.
Trump suggested relocating Gaza’s population to other countries, including Egypt and Jordan, and transforming the Strip into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” However, his proposal was met with strong rejection.
Eid Al-Fitr in Gaza
As Muslims in Gaza celebrated the first day of Eid Al-Fitr on Sunday, Israeli strikes killed at least 20 people, including children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
On March 18, 2025, Israel resumed its air and ground operations in Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate areas in northern Gaza.
The war in Gaza erupted following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The Gaza war has so far claimed the lives of over 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
