In a major development in the 21-month-long Gaza conflict, Hamas has signaled possible willingness to accept a ceasefire agreement with Israel but stands firm on its insistence for the war to come to an end. This follows closely on the heels of U.S. President Donald Trump on July 1, 2025, announcing that Israel had accepted a 60-day ceasefire and called on Hamas to agree to the terms before situations worsen further. As the U.S. seeks to facilitate a peace deal and hostage swap, Hamas' guarded reaction highlights the profound rifts that persist in holding back negotiations.
Trump Urges Ceasefire as Gaza War Death Toll Rises
President Trump has ramped up diplomatic pressure to get the two sides to the bargaining table. The U.S. is leading a call for a 60-day ceasefire, hoping to set in motion tangible action toward halting the long-running war. "I hope, for the benefit of the Middle East, that Hamas accepts this Deal, because it will not be any better IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," Trump added in a tweet, capturing the sense of immediacy. The U.S. has also been cooperating closely with Egyptian and Qatari mediators to bring about an agreement.
Trump views the present situation as a possible turning point in the catastrophic war, which started on October 7, 2023, when militants led by Hamas staged a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 individuals and taking approximately 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel's military attacked Gaza, and the attacks have killed over 56,000 people, the Gaza Health Ministry reported — more than half of them reportedly women and children. The ministry does not separate combatants and civilians.
Hamas Holds Out Against Ceasefire
While indicating signs of flexibility, however, Hamas has not been fully converted to the U.S.-supported ceasefire proposal. Top Hamas official Taher al-Nunu restated the group's stance, declaring, "We are ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement," but demanding that any effort must clearly lead to a full ceasefire of the war. A Hamas delegation is set to meet Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on July 2, to discuss the latest proposal in further detail.
One of the main sticking points is still the status of the remaining hostages. Hamas has allegedly agreed to free the remaining 50 captives, fewer than half of whom are thought to still be alive, in return for an unconditional Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a complete cessation of hostilities. This is contrasted with Israel's insistence that Hamas disarm, surrender, and emigrate to exile a condition the militant group has rejected outright.
Ceasefire Proposal Calls for Partial Withdrawal and Humanitarian Assistance
A partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a significant boost in humanitarian assistance to the war-torn region are included in the most recent 60-day ceasefire proposal, an Israeli official said anonymously. While talks would also center on a permanent resolution to the war, Israel has made no commitment to ending the war as part of this offer. The amount of the hostages to be freed is unknown, though earlier plans indicated between 10 might be released under the truce.
Israel has yet to make an official public announcement after Trump's statement, but the scheduled White House meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 7 is bound to influence the negotiations further. Netanyahu's senior adviser Ron Dermer has already discussed the situation in Gaza with the upper echelons of U.S. officials, along with regional issues such as Iran.
Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in Gaza
With the diplomatic to-and-fro, the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza deepens daily. The conflict has left over 90% of the enclave's 2.3 million inhabitants displaced, with many having been displaced multiple times. Neighborhoods have been left in ruins, and the absence of basic commodities has driven hundreds of thousands to the edges of starvation. Aid agencies and foreign monitors have alerted to the possibility of famine-like conditions within weeks unless emergency aid is permitted into the area.
Though Hamas' willingness to negotiate brings hope, the fundamental issues of the conflict continue to be unresolved. President Trump's ceasefire plan has brought new energy to the negotiations, yet entrenched distrust and irreconcilable positions remain obstacles to a lasting peace. With both sides poised for resumed talks, the world watches anxiously from Cairo and Washington, awaiting a breakthrough that might at last bring peace to Israelis and Gazans alike.
