Hamas officials said they have accepted a ceasefire proposal that includes a pause in military operations for 60 days and the release of 28 Israeli hostages — 18 of whom are believed to be dead — in exchange for an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners.
Egypt and Qatar presented the proposal to Hamas leaders Sunday.
Despite this development, the ceasefire — and an end to the war — is not guaranteed. Israel has not officially accepted the proposal, and past attempts to reach an agreement, including the most recent U.S.-backed one, have failed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who previously said he would agree to a permanent ceasefire only if all hostages are released at once, said on Sunday, “Those who call today for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening Hamas’ position and delaying the release of our hostages. They are also ensuring that the horrors of Oct. 7 will repeat themselves over and over again.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department announced on Sunday the suspension of visitor visas from Gaza, which may include those intended for medical treatment.
Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, where starvation is rampant, has prompted outcry from global leaders. France, Australia and Canada are among a growing number of countries that have called for Palestinian statehood. The United Kingdom said it will agree to recognize Palestine as a state if Israel does not accept a ceasefire deal.
The United Nations and humanitarian groups around the world have repeatedly condemned Israel’s blockade of aid into the region. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres in June called for an independent investigation into an attack on an aid distribution center in Gaza. The U.N. said at the beginning of August that since May 27, at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more have been injured while seeking food along convoy routes or at aid sites.
World leaders have also denounced Netanyahu and his government for moving ahead with plans to seize Gaza City. The move could displace nearly 1 million people. Critics in Israel have also argued it could endanger the remaining hostages.
Israel launched a military assault on Gaza immediately after Hamas killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Local health officials estimate that at least 62,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then.
