U.S. proposal agreed by Israel, Hamas Reviewing

To end the ongoing war in Gaza, the United States has proposed a 60-day ceasefire plan, which is currently under discussion by Hamas. The draft proposal was presented last Thursday by the Trump administration. While Israel has already accepted the plan, Hamas has stated that it is still "under review" and does not fully reflect the demands of the Palestinian people.

According to Reuters, the proposal includes the release of 28 Israeli hostages (alive and deceased) during the first week of the ceasefire in exchange for 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the return of 180 bodies. In return, Israel would suspend all military operations in Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to enter the region.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, delivered the proposal to Hamas, with Egypt and Qatar acting as mediators in the negotiations.

Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, said, “The proposal does not meet our key demands, particularly the complete end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops.” Another senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, added that the plan also lacks guarantees for unrestricted humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting. Several European nations, including the UK, France, and Canada, have warned Israel of potential targeted sanctions if it does not end its military aggression and halt settlement expansions in the West Bank.

Despite these warnings, Israeli Finance Minister and far-right leader Bezalel Smotrich announced the approval of 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the U.S. and approved by Israel, has opened its third aid distribution center. However, the UN and other agencies have criticized the effort as inadequate and poorly managed. Recently, chaos erupted during aid distribution, forcing security forces to retreat amid crowds of desperate civilians.

The conflict began after Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. In response, Israel launched a prolonged military offensive. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 54,200 Palestinians have been killed, while Gaza’s government media office estimates the toll has surpassed 61,700.

Hamas is expected to deliver its official response to the U.S. proposal by Friday or Saturday. Analysts caution that while the ceasefire plan may bring temporary relief, a permanent resolution to the conflict remains a distant goal.