Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be gaining traction, with signs that Hamas may accept a U.S.-backed proposal involving a 60-day truce, the staged release of 28 hostages, and talks aimed at ending the war that began in October 2023.
According to multiple sources, the proposed deal includes the release of 10 living and 18 deceased hostages over a two-month ceasefire period. Hamas has reportedly agreed to refrain from public propaganda ceremonies during handovers, a key Israeli demand. In return, Israel would suspend military operations so long as negotiations toward ending the war continue.
The deal is seen as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to secure a breakthrough ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to Washington. Diplomatic sources described the current moment as a “big opportunity,” citing flexibility on both sides, though disagreement remains over whether the war should end permanently.
The hostages would be released in five stages, starting with eight living individuals on day one and two more on day 60, interspersed with the return of the deceased. In exchange, Israel would release Palestinian security prisoners and increase humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The framework also includes partial Israeli troop withdrawals and uninterrupted aid flows coordinated by the UN and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israel, however, has not agreed to formally end the war. The territory’s future administration would be handed to a politically neutral Palestinian committee, not Hamas—a step Netanyahu insists upon.
While Hamas’s response is still pending, reports suggest that its leaders have accepted the proposal’s assurances and may formally respond Friday. Meanwhile, hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition have begun voicing strong opposition, threatening the government’s stability if a deal proceeds without “total victory.”
