Hamas said it is seeking an end to the war and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid as it is expected to announce a decision on a new U.S. ceasefire proposal to which U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel had agreed.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Department of State and Hamas officials for comment.
Why It Matters
Momentum for a ceasefire is mounting as the U.S. has stepped up diplomatic efforts in recent weeks, applying pressure to both Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement that also includes a mechanism for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
The United States says it is offering an opportunity for peace in the Middle East and is also pushing for more countries to join Abraham Accords agreements with Israel, which is difficult while it continues to wage the devastating was in Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
What To Know
Hamas said it is holding consultations on the latest 60-day ceasefire deal and will publicly announce a decision afterwards.
“As part of the movement’s keenness to end the Zionist aggression against our people and to ensure the free entry of aid, the movement is holding consultations with leaders of Palestinian forces and factions regarding the proposal it received from the brotherly mediators,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
A source close to Hamas told Reuters the group is seeking assurances that the new U.S.-backed proposal for Gaza would ultimately result in a permanent end to the war.
Reaching an agreement has been stalled for months over key disputes on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and Israel’s demand for the removal of Hamas from the strip.
As of early July 2025, over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 133,000 injured in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reports 891 soldiers killed since then.
What People Are Saying
Hamas statement Thursday, broadcast on Telegram in Arabic: “The movement will deliver its final decision to the mediators after the consultations conclude and will announce it officially.”
President Donald Trump in Tuesday statement: “I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Non-Resident Fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs Mouin Rabbani told Newsweek: “I think [Hamas] will primarily depend on whether they feel they have achieved their core demands, or a credible pathway to achieving them: a durable ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and unrestricted entry of aid.”
U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Wednesday: “So the Middle East changed dramatically. This is the – an opportunity in the midst of this new world to make a different kind of decision.”
What Happens Next
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will discuss Gaza in a White House meeting next week. Israel is wary of accepting any agreement that would leave Hamas in power, allow it to claim victory and remain a threat to Israeli security.
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