WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hamas officials announced Friday they have responded positively to a 60-day ceasefire proposal brokered by President Donald Trump’s administration but indicated that further negotiations are necessary to finalize a deal to pause the nearly two-year war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
The announcement from the Palestinian militant group came just a day after President Trump told reporters he expected a response on the agreement within 24 hours. While it is not yet a formal acceptance, Hamas informed mediators that it is “seriously ready to enter immediately into a round of negotiations” to end the conflict.
For months, President Trump has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire, pushing both sides to agree to a deal that would not only pause the fighting but also include the release of all hostages taken captive during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Earlier this week, President Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that Israel had already consented to the framework. “Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” the president wrote.
He issued a direct warning to Hamas, adding, “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.”
According to an official with knowledge of the negotiations, Hamas has requested several specific conditions before fully committing to a truce. These reported demands include the pullback of Israeli military forces to their pre-March positions, ensuring an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a provision for negotiations to extend beyond the 60-day period if needed to secure a permanent end to the war.
The diplomatic developments are set against a backdrop of continued violence. Hamas’s response came just hours after Israeli airstrikes killed 15 Palestinians in Gaza, while hospital officials reported another 20 people were killed in shootings while seeking aid, according to The Associated Press.
The fragile negotiations are expected to be a central topic of discussion next week, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House. In previous peace talks, the Israeli leader has maintained that his nation’s ultimate goal is the complete eradication of Hamas.
