Hamas has reportedly agreed to the latest proposal presented by regional mediators for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release agreement with Israel, according to a source within the Palestinian armed group who spoke with the BBC.
The proposal, brokered by Egypt and Qatar, is reportedly based on a two-stage framework previously advanced by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in June.
Under the proposed terms, Hamas would release approximately half of the remaining 50 Israeli hostages – an estimated 20 of whom are believed to be alive – in two phases during an initial 60-day truce. Negotiations regarding a permanent cessation of hostilities would also take place.
The response from Israel remains uncertain. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has previously stated that it will only accept a deal stipulating “all the hostages are released in one go.”
In a video statement released following reports of Hamas’s approval, Netanyahu did not directly address the issue but suggested that the group was “under immense pressure.”
Later this week, the Israeli cabinet is expected to consider approving the military’s plan to occupy Gaza City, where increased Israeli strikes have led to the displacement of thousands of Palestinians.
The Prime Minister announced Israel’s intention to broaden its offensive and seize control of the entirety of Gaza – including areas where the majority of its two million residents have sought refuge – following the breakdown of indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas last month.
On Sunday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis convened in Tel Aviv to urge their government to agree to a deal with Hamas aimed at securing the immediate return of all hostages and ending the ongoing conflict.
Netanyahu has accused the demonstrators of potentially strengthening Hamas’s negotiating position.
He has stated that the war will only conclude upon the release of all hostages and the disarmament of Hamas. He also advocates for the demilitarization of Gaza, its continued control under Israeli security oversight, and governance by an administration independent of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas is advocating for a comprehensive agreement encompassing the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, an end to the war, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group maintains that it will not disarm without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The Israeli military initiated its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory, at least 62,004 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict.
The BBC’s Lucy Williamson reports that the incident near Nablus was “completely unprovoked.”
A BBC team was conducting an interview with a Palestinian farmer when masked individuals approached them aggressively.
In a joint letter, politicians have called upon the Prime Minister to exert pressure on Israel to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.
Large crowds have gathered in ‘Hostages Square’ in Tel Aviv, demanding a cessation of hostilities and the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas.
The Hamas-run authority in Gaza City reports that Israeli bombardment has created a “catastrophic” situation in the city’s Zeitoun neighborhood.