Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire Proposal Amid Ongoing Conflict with Israel
Amid continued Israeli attacks, Hamas accepts a ceasefire proposal that includes the release of five hostages.
On March 29, 2025, Hamas announced its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators from Egypt and Qatar, amid an ongoing conflict with Israel.
The announcement was made by Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's leader in Gaza, during a televised address, in which he emphasized the group's willingness to negotiate.
"We received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
We dealt with it positively and accepted it," al-Hayya stated, expressing hope that Israel would not act to undermine the agreement.
In response, the Israeli government issued a counter-proposal, stating that it was made in "full coordination" with the United States.
The specifics of this counter-proposal were not disclosed, and Israel is not participating directly in the ongoing negotiations being facilitated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha.
Protests continued in Israel, with families of hostages rallying in Tel Aviv, demanding action from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for the safe return of their loved ones.
Demonstrators expressed concerns over the safety of hostages, as airstrikes continue across Gaza.
Chants of "The price of your war is the life of the hostages" were heard during the protests, with some participants warning that further military action would endanger captives.
An Egyptian official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions, outlined that the newly accepted proposal from Hamas includes the release of five living hostages, including an American-Israeli citizen, contingent upon Israel permitting humanitarian aid into Gaza and instigating a pause in hostilities.
In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel's military operations intensified in Gaza after a sudden renewal of bombings on March 18, 2025. The recent assault has resulted in nearly 1,000 Palestinian fatalities, including a significant number of children, as reported by UNICEF.
In total, over 50,000 deaths have been recorded in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to health officials in the region.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals.
Since that time, Israeli military actions have led to widespread devastation in Gaza, displacing around 90% of its two million residents and decimating infrastructure.
The situation also remains dire regarding humanitarian aid, following the re-imposition of a total blockade on March 2. Essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medical materials are dwindling, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Looking ahead, Hamas has stated its conditions for releasing all remaining captives, which include a full ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Additionally, the ceasefire negotiations underscore a wider demand for lasting peace, alongside proposals for governance and disarmament matters regarding Hamas leadership.
The announcement was made by Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's leader in Gaza, during a televised address, in which he emphasized the group's willingness to negotiate.
"We received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
We dealt with it positively and accepted it," al-Hayya stated, expressing hope that Israel would not act to undermine the agreement.
In response, the Israeli government issued a counter-proposal, stating that it was made in "full coordination" with the United States.
The specifics of this counter-proposal were not disclosed, and Israel is not participating directly in the ongoing negotiations being facilitated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha.
Protests continued in Israel, with families of hostages rallying in Tel Aviv, demanding action from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for the safe return of their loved ones.
Demonstrators expressed concerns over the safety of hostages, as airstrikes continue across Gaza.
Chants of "The price of your war is the life of the hostages" were heard during the protests, with some participants warning that further military action would endanger captives.
An Egyptian official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions, outlined that the newly accepted proposal from Hamas includes the release of five living hostages, including an American-Israeli citizen, contingent upon Israel permitting humanitarian aid into Gaza and instigating a pause in hostilities.
In exchange, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel's military operations intensified in Gaza after a sudden renewal of bombings on March 18, 2025. The recent assault has resulted in nearly 1,000 Palestinian fatalities, including a significant number of children, as reported by UNICEF.
In total, over 50,000 deaths have been recorded in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict, according to health officials in the region.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals.
Since that time, Israeli military actions have led to widespread devastation in Gaza, displacing around 90% of its two million residents and decimating infrastructure.
The situation also remains dire regarding humanitarian aid, following the re-imposition of a total blockade on March 2. Essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medical materials are dwindling, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Looking ahead, Hamas has stated its conditions for releasing all remaining captives, which include a full ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Additionally, the ceasefire negotiations underscore a wider demand for lasting peace, alongside proposals for governance and disarmament matters regarding Hamas leadership.
