Israel’s security cabinet is expected to meet Saturday night to decide its next move after Hamas announced its readiness to begin immediate negotiations on a U.S.-backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire.
The development comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. The White House has been pushing for a resolution to the nearly 21-month-long war, which has devastated the Gaza Strip and triggered mounting international concern.
Speaking to AFP, an Israeli government official confirmed that no final decision had been made regarding Hamas’s latest overture.
Hamas issued a statement late Friday, declaring its willingness to “engage immediately and seriously” in talks on implementing the U.S.-supported ceasefire plan. The proposal reportedly includes a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release half of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza — believed to number around 22 — in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Islamic Jihad, a close ally of Hamas, also expressed support for the negotiations but demanded assurances that Israel would not resume its military campaign once hostages are released.
When asked about Hamas’s response during a briefing aboard Air Force One, President Trump said: “That’s good. They haven’t briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.”
The conflict began in October 2023 following a surprise Hamas assault on Israel, which left 1,219 people dead, mostly civilians. The attack prompted a massive Israeli retaliation aimed at dismantling Hamas and recovering hostages. Of the 251 hostages originally taken, 49 remain in captivity, including 27 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 57,268 Palestinians — mostly civilians — have been killed in Gaza since the war began. On Saturday alone, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported 32 deaths in Israeli strikes, including eight people killed in two separate attacks on schools in Gaza City.
The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. The U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which took over food distribution in May, reported that two American staff members were injured Saturday in a grenade attack at a food centre in Khan Yunis. The GHF blamed the incident on “targeted terrorist aggression.”
UN agencies have distanced themselves from the GHF, citing concerns that it serves Israeli military objectives. According to the UN human rights office, over 500 people have been killed while attempting to access aid at GHF sites due to chaotic conditions and Israeli fire.
Despite the growing criticism, GHF Chairman Johnnie Moore, a Christian evangelical leader and Trump ally, vowed to continue operations: “We will not be shut down. We have one job to do — to provide free food to the people of Gaza.”
As the war grinds on, the latest truce proposal offers a glimmer of hope — but whether it will lead to lasting peace remains uncertain.
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