Hamas has stated that it has not received a Gaza ceasefire plan from U.S. President Donald Trump, even as Israeli forces expanded a devastating assault on Gaza City . The comments from an unnamed Hamas official came in response to a report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which cited sources claiming the group had agreed in principle to a Trump-backed deal . The reported proposal would include the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip .
The situation highlights a significant disconnect between diplomatic statements and the realities faced by Palestinians in Gaza. President Trump told reporters on Friday that "it's looking like we have a deal on Gaza," expressing optimism about negotiations . However, he provided no specific details or a timetable for the proposed agreement . This lack of concrete information, coupled with Hamas's denial of even receiving the plan, casts doubt on the immediacy of a potential breakthrough. The timing of these diplomatic maneuvers occurs alongside a severe escalation of military violence, raising questions about the commitment to a genuine cessation of hostilities .
While diplomats spoke of potential deals, the Israeli military intensified its ground offensive in Gaza City, with the air force striking over 120 targets across the territory in a single day . The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 74 people were killed in Gaza during the preceding 24 hours . This ongoing assault has forced hundreds of thousands of residents to flee their homes, though hundreds of thousands more remain trapped in the city amidst collapsing health services and a confirmed famine . The UN World Food Programme estimates that between 350,000 and 400,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City in recent weeks, yet those who remain face dire and life-threatening conditions .
According to the Haaretz report, the terms of the deal Hamas has allegedly agreed to in principle would involve the release of all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners serving life or long-term sentences in Israeli jails . The proposal would also reportedly require an end to Hamas's rule in Gaza, while Israel would agree not to annex the territory or drive out the Palestinian population living there . A major point of contention, however, remains the governance of Gaza after any agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that any post-war government in the Strip must not be Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, a condition that complicates the path to a sustainable political solution .
The discrepancy between the White House's assertions and Hamas's denial points to a crisis of credibility in the peace process. For any proposal to have a chance of success, it must be formally presented to and accepted by all parties involved, which does not yet appear to be the case . With the humanitarian situation growing more catastrophic by the day and the civilian death toll mounting, international calls for a credible and immediate ceasefire continue to intensify. The coming days will be a critical test of whether diplomatic efforts can rise above mere rhetoric and produce a tangible agreement that ends the violence and addresses the profound suffering of the Palestinian people .