Today's News: Hamas Is Prepared To Negotiate Gaza Ceasefire Proposal
Hamas has announced its “positive response” to a new 60-day ceasefire proposal for Gaza, signaling a significant step toward de-escalation after months of stalled negotiations.
Photo: Saher Alghorra for The New York Times
Overview
Date: July 4, 2025
Topic: Hamas’s Positive Response to Gaza Ceasefire Proposal
Summary: Hamas has announced its “positive response” to a new 60-day ceasefire proposal for Gaza, signaling a significant step toward de-escalation after months of stalled negotiations. The proposal, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, includes a phased exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and aims to facilitate serious negotiations for a permanent end to the nearly two-year-old conflict. While both sides have expressed willingness to enter talks, underlying disagreements, particularly over the permanence of the ceasefire and Israel’s objective to dismantle Hamas, remain key hurdles. The deal also seeks to increase humanitarian aid flow into the besieged enclave.
Sources
The New York Times - Hamas Says It Is Ready to Negotiate Truce Proposal
CNN - Hamas submits ‘positive response’ to ceasefire proposal in major step toward a deal
The Washington Post - Hamas prepared to negotiate over implementation of ceasefire proposal
El País - Hamas considers Trump’s proposal for a truce in Gaza “positive”
Key Points
Hamas has formally submitted a “positive response” to a new 60-day ceasefire proposal in Gaza, expressing readiness to enter immediate negotiations for its implementation.
The proposal, which Israel had previously accepted, is a framework for a hostage-for-prisoner exchange, specifically mentioning the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 deceased ones in return for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.
The core objective of the 60-day truce is to create a window for serious negotiations, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, aimed at achieving a permanent end to the war.
United States President Donald Trump has actively pushed for the deal, urging both Israel and Hamas to accept it, and is expected to officially announce the agreement.
A significant increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza through traditional channels is a key component of the proposal.
The primary obstacle to a lasting agreement remains Hamas’s demand for a permanent cessation of hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal, which conflicts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated goal of dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
The recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, and Israel’s subsequent rise in domestic popularity, has potentially given Netanyahu more political leverage to pursue a deal for hostage returns.
The war began with the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, while Israel’s retaliation has resulted in over 57,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza.
Unique Highlights
The New York Times details the proposal’s requirement for Hamas to refrain from holding televised handover ceremonies, which had previously infuriated Israelis. It also introduces Izz al-Din al-Haddad as Hamas’s new de facto leader in Gaza, outlining his role in the October 7 attack and his terms for ending the war. The article notes Netanyahu’s previous pressure on Trump to target Iranian nuclear sites, which the American leader ordered bombed in June.
CNN highlights Palestinian-American interlocutor Bishara Bahbah’s statement that Hamas introduced “amendments it deemed necessary” but expects them not to derail the agreement. It specifies that on the first day of the ceasefire, Hamas would release eight living hostages, and Israel would withdraw from parts of northern Gaza. The article also points out that the new proposal includes stronger U.S. assurances about keeping Israel at the negotiating table for a permanent ceasefire and mentions Netanyahu prioritizing hostage return over defeating Hamas for the first time in months.
The Washington Post specifies the new deal’s date as June 30 and details the involvement of the United Nations and the Palestine Red Crescent Society in aid distribution. It cites the International Committee of the Red Cross on the overwhelming state of Gaza’s hospitals and reports a United Nations finding of 613 deaths in one month at aid distribution sites, including those run by the U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The article also mentions a coalition of humanitarian groups stating Palestinians face an “impossible choice: starve or risk being shot.” It notes that Israeli military and defense officials informed Netanyahu that weakening Hamas’s threat capability has been accomplished.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Arab officials involved in the talks stated the deal would “immediately trigger U.S.-backed negotiations” for a permanent end to the war. It provides a specific breakdown of hostage releases: eight living hostages on Day 1 and two on Day 50. The article highlights that Hamas faces growing pressure from ordinary Palestinians due to hunger and airstrikes and that most of its military leaders in Gaza have been killed, leading to the group being on its “third leader in eight months.” It also states that the proposal stipulates President Trump will officially announce the deal.
El País mentions Hamas consulting with other Palestinian factions regarding its response and finalizing details with intermediaries like Qatar’s Al Arabiya and Al Araby television stations. It cites a draft agreement, obtained by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, detailing the release of five hostage bodies on Day 7, five more on Day 30, and the final eight on Day 60. The article includes a quote from Menachen Klein, a professor emeritus at Bar-Ilan University, suggesting Netanyahu “wants to buy time and not commit to ending the war.” It also details criticism of the Israeli and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) as “degrading, ineffective, and a crime,” and reports on Israeli army orders to shoot at Palestinians attempting to reach aid points, which the army denies but states it is “learning its lesson” from.
Contrasting Details
Number of Hostages: While most articles agree on approximately 50 total hostages remaining and about 20 thought to be alive, CNN states, “Of the 50 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza, the proposal calls for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased during the ceasefire.” This phrasing could be interpreted as the proposal addressing 28 out of 50, whereas The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal specify the proposal calls for 10 living and 18 deceased out of the approximately 20 living and 30 deceased hostages believed to be held.
Hamas’s Amendments to the Proposal: CNN states that Hamas “introduced amendments it deemed necessary” and an Israeli source expected “rewording of a few points,” suggesting specific changes were made or expected. In contrast, The New York Times notes it was “not immediately clear whether Hamas was demanding any significant changes,” and The Washington Post states Hamas’s statement “did not include details about what provisions it might seek to amend, or the extent of such proposals,” emphasizing the lack of public clarity on any specific changes. El País mentions Hamas “still finalizing some details with intermediaries” and that its public statement did not refer to hostage release or the 60-day term, but maintained its main demands.
Netanyahu’s Stance on Ending the War: CNN suggests that after the conflict with Iran, Netanyahu “has signaled a new willingness to compromise” on a ceasefire deal that includes a comprehensive end to the war. However, The Washington Post reports that “some Israeli officials continue to signal that they do not view any potential ceasefire as a path to ending the war entirely.” Similarly, El País quotes Menachen Klein, a professor emeritus, stating Netanyahu “wants to buy time and not commit to ending the war.” This indicates a differing interpretation of the extent of Netanyahu’s current willingness to agree to a permanent end to the conflict.
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