Jerusalem/Washington: A draft ceasefire proposal by the United States, reviewed by the international news agency Reuters, outlines a 60-day halt in fighting in Gaza, aiming to break the deadlock in negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The plan suggests a phased agreement that includes significant humanitarian and diplomatic measures, with backing from President Donald Trump and mediation by Egypt and Qatar.
Under the proposal, during the initial week of the ceasefire, Hamas would release 28 Israeli hostages—both alive and deceased—while Israel would release 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. Additionally, the remains of 180 deceased Palestinians would be returned. The plan also stipulates the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza upon Hamas’s approval of the truce.
According to the document, the final group of 30 Israeli hostages would be freed only after a permanent ceasefire is enacted, underscoring the U.S. administration’s push for a comprehensive and irreversible end to hostilities.
The White House announced on Thursday that Israel has accepted the terms of the U.S.-proposed ceasefire. Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed to Reuters that it is reviewing the proposal and intends to respond either Friday or Saturday.
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Efforts to broker peace have been thwarted for months due to entrenched disagreements. Israel has maintained that it will only agree to end the war if Hamas is fully disarmed and dismantled as both a military entity and governing body in Gaza. Additionally, Israel demands the return of all 58 remaining hostages still believed to be held in Gaza.
Hamas, for its part, has rejected calls for complete disarmament. The group insists that Israel must first commit to a full military withdrawal from Gaza and a formal end to the war.
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The ongoing war began after the October 7, 2023, assault by Hamas on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel launched a massive military campaign across Gaza. Gaza health officials report that the Israeli offensive has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and devastated much of the enclave’s infrastructure.
The proposed ceasefire plan, if accepted, could mark the first major breakthrough in months and offer a path toward longer-term peace efforts in the region.
