Hamas announced on Friday that it had responded positively to a proposed ceasefire agreement aimed at halting the ongoing war in Gaza. The group submitted its formal reply to mediators involved in the negotiations, which center on a 60-day ceasefire, the release of prisoners on both sides, and a framework for talks toward a permanent ceasefire.
According to reports in U.S. and Arab media, Hamas has agreed to the proposal in principle but requested what were described as “minor and formal” amendments—nonetheless significant enough to potentially delay or derail progress.
These amendments reportedly include clarifications on several key issues: U.S. guarantees that Israel will not violate the ceasefire, the specific timeline for prisoner exchanges, aid delivery logistics, and the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
One of the most contentious sticking points remains Hamas’s demand for assurances that the ceasefire will become permanent, or at minimum that Israel will not resume hostilities after the 60-day truce period.
The group's concerns stem from past experiences. In the January 17 ceasefire deal, which was intended to lay the groundwork for a lasting peace, Israel was accused of violating the terms multiple times—by blocking the return of displaced residents to northern Gaza, halting humanitarian aid deliveries on March 2, and fully resuming military operations on March 18 with U.S. backing.
Despite the positive tone of Hamas’s response, many details still need to be resolved, including mechanisms to build mutual trust and ensure compliance—particularly guarantees that the U.S. will not support renewed Israeli military actions after the proposed truce.
The latest negotiations unfold amid continued bloodshed. Over 600 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in the past five weeks at aid distribution points run by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which employs private security contractors.
A video circulated on social media this week shows several of these contractors firing their weapons, with one man heard saying he believed he had “hit one of them,” referring to aid seekers who were off-camera.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz also published a report citing Israeli soldiers who claimed they had received direct orders from senior commanders to shoot civilians approaching aid centers. The Israeli military later acknowledged that troops had fired “in the direction” of aid seekers but denied any systemic policy or official orders. An internal investigation, according to the IDF, is underway.
While Hamas’s response marks a hopeful step toward renewed talks, deep distrust and recurring violence continue to cast uncertainty over the path to lasting peace in Gaza.