Cairo/Tel Aviv, July 5, 2025: Hamas announced Friday that it had responded “in a positive spirit” to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the nearly 21-month-long war in Gaza, signaling potential movement toward halting the conflict.
In a statement posted on its official website, Hamas said it had completed internal consultations and discussions with other Palestinian factions and had submitted its response to mediators. The group expressed readiness to enter immediate negotiations on implementing the proposed framework, which includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of hostages, and talks on a broader resolution.
The development comes after U.S. President Donald Trump presented what he called a “final proposal” for a truce earlier this week, expecting replies from both sides. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump reacted to Hamas’ response with optimism. “They said they gave me a positive response? Well, that’s good,” he said, adding a deal “could come next week.”
However, challenges remain. A senior official from a militant faction aligned with Hamas cited ongoing concerns over humanitarian aid, access through the Rafah crossing, and a clear timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal.
While Israel has yet to officially comment, local media reported that officials were reviewing Hamas’ response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Trump in Washington on Monday. Despite the apparent momentum, the two sides remain publicly at odds — especially over Israel’s demand that Hamas be disarmed, a condition the group has consistently rejected.
According to Egyptian mediators, Hamas’ reply contains “positive signs,” though some demands still need to be addressed. Egypt and Qatar are jointly facilitating the talks.
On the ground, violence continued. Gaza’s health authorities reported at least 138 Palestinian deaths in the past 24 hours. Among them, 15 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp west of Khan Younis. The Israeli military said it had eliminated militants, destroyed Hamas outposts, and hit over 100 targets across the enclave in the same period.
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, grieving families gathered for funerals. “There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother,” said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr, weeping over the death of her brother Mahmoud, reportedly shot while trying to collect food aid.
In Tel Aviv, families of hostages marked U.S. Independence Day outside the U.S. Embassy with a symbolic Sabbath dinner table displaying 50 empty chairs — one for each captive still believed to be held by Hamas. “Only you can make the deal,” said Gideon Rosenberg, whose employee Avinatan Or was abducted during the October 7, 2023 Nova music festival attack.
The current ceasefire proposal reportedly includes the return of 10 hostages and the bodies of 18 more believed to have died in captivity. Ruby Chen, the father of slain 19-year-old American-Israeli soldier Itay Chen, called on Netanyahu to come back from Washington with an agreement that secures the release of all hostages.
The war, triggered by Hamas’ October 7 assault that killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251, has devastated Gaza. Israeli retaliation has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to local health officials, and displaced most of the enclave’s population of over 2 million.
