Ceasefire talks show new momentum

Qatar and Egypt push to broker a truce between Hamas and Israel that could enable hostage releases and humanitarian aid.

Hamas signals acceptance of Gaza ceasefire plan

Hamas has told mediators in Cairo that it is prepared to accept a ceasefire proposal that would preserve about 98 percent of the original plan drafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff in May. The agreement would start with an initial 60 day pause in fighting, include the release of half the remaining Israeli hostages, and provide a pathway to a broader agreement that addresses postwar governance and security arrangements alongside continued aid to Gaza.

Israel has not publicly commented on the latest round of diplomacy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces international and domestic pressure to end the Gaza offensive, while insisting any deal must ensure Hamas lays down its arms and Gaza is demilitarised. Previous sticking points included where Israeli troops would redeploy and how many prisoners would be exchanged, along with the demand for a permanent end to the war.

The shift signals how diplomacy can create space for limited concessions without delivering a final settlement. If the pause holds, it will test whether humanitarian relief and hostage concerns can be separated from broader security aims. Domestic political dynamics in Israel, along with pressure from the United States, Egypt and Qatar, will shape whether negotiators can turn a pause into a durable truce. The main risk is that a fragile agreement could unravel if guarantees are weak or if hostages are not released as promised and violence resumes.

Highlights

Diplomacy moves in fits and starts, with lives hanging in the balance.