Hope For Truce Hangs On Hamas Response as Gaza Crisis Deepens

Hamas has announced that it is consulting with other Palestinian factions before issuing a formal response to the latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal presented by the United States.

The offer, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, aims to bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza, now entering its 21st month.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expected clarity from Hamas within 24 hours on whether it would accept the proposal.

Earlier in the week, Trump confirmed that Israel had agreed to the framework of a 60-day ceasefire, during which negotiations would continue toward a lasting resolution and the return of remaining hostages.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, violence on the ground persists.

On Friday morning, Israeli air and ground forces launched renewed attacks on Gaza, particularly targeting the southern city of Khan Younis.

Local journalists reported the sounds of artillery fire and helicopter strikes, with at least 15 Palestinians killed overnight in bombings that struck tents sheltering displaced families.

The figures were according to medical staff at Nasser Hospital.

The Israeli military has not officially commented on these strikes but maintains its operations are focused on dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure.

The current ceasefire proposal reportedly includes a phased release of hostages, beginning with 10 Israeli captives confirmed to be alive, and the repatriation of the bodies of 18 others, in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention.

Approximately 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive.

A major component of the proposal addresses humanitarian concerns.

Hamas is demanding the immediate and unrestricted delivery of food, medical supplies, and other essential aid into Gaza.

According to reports, the plan stipulates that aid flows would resume promptly, facilitated by the United Nations and the Red Cross.

Also under consideration is a step-by-step Israeli withdrawal from selected parts of the Gaza Strip.

However, Hamas is seeking a firm guarantee that Israeli military operations, including airstrikes and ground offensives, will not resume after the 60-day ceasefire concludes.

The proposal suggests that talks aimed at a comprehensive end to the war, as well as the release of all remaining hostages, would begin on the first day of the truce.

A spokesperson for Hamas said the group was conducting internal consultations with various Palestinian factions and would deliver a definitive answer to the mediators upon conclusion of those discussions.

An official announcement is expected soon.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee expressed cautious optimism, telling Israel’s Channel 12 TV:

“We sure hope it’s a done deal, but it all depends on what Hamas is willing to accept.

“One thing is clear: the president wants it to end, the prime minister wants it to end, and so do the American and Israeli people.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is preparing for a visit to Washington next week, reiterated his government’s commitment to securing the release of all hostages.

During a visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz, where 76 residents were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu pledged to bring every hostage home.

However, he stopped short of promising an end to the conflict, repeating his stance that the war would only conclude once Hamas’s military and political leadership is dismantled.

The current hostilities began after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel in October 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

Since then, Israel has conducted a wide-ranging military campaign across Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry in the territory reports that over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting.

As the world watches closely, hopes for a meaningful breakthrough hang in the balance.

Much now depends on Hamas’s response to the latest deal—one that could mark a turning point in a devastating conflict that has exacted a staggering human toll on both sides.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook