Gaza/Washington, September 22, 2025: A potential breakthrough has emerged in the ongoing Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, raising hopes for sustainable peace in the region.
According to US broadcaster Fox News, Hamas has sent a key letter to former US President Donald Trump offering a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of half of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The report cited a senior Trump administration official and another source directly involved in the negotiations.
Israeli daily Times of Israel later confirmed the Fox News report through its own independent sources. According to these reports, the letter is currently with Qatar and is expected to be formally presented to Trump later this week.
However, sources noted that Hamas has not yet signed the letter, though it is expected to do so in the coming days. Qatar had previously mediated negotiations for the hostages’ release but suspended its efforts after Israel targeted Hamas leaders in Doha.
Hamas had launched its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, seizing 251 hostages and taking them into Gaza. Currently, 48 Israeli hostages are believed to remain in Hamas custody. Estimates suggest that roughly half of them may have died, leaving around 20 alive, while negotiations have also focused on the return of bodies.
The revelation of Hamas’s letter to Trump comes as the United Nations headquarters hosts a high-profile session co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. At least six Western countries are expected to announce recognition of a Palestinian state, with a joint resolution likely to be tabled. The United States and Israel, however, have boycotted the “historic” UN meeting, continuing their long-standing opposition to such initiatives.
