A U.S. proposal for Gaza, revealed to Reuters on Friday, suggests a 60-day ceasefire along with the release of 28 Israeli hostages—both living and deceased—within the first week. This would be in exchange for freeing 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and returning the remains of 180 deceased Palestinians. The plan, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump and mediators Egypt and Qatar, also includes immediate humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza once Hamas agrees to the ceasefire.
The aid is set to be distributed through the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other approved channels. On Thursday, the White House announced that Israel had accepted the U.S. ceasefire proposal. Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had agreed to the plan presented by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Hamas, meanwhile, stated it was reviewing the proposal and expected to respond by Friday or Saturday.
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Under the plan, Hamas would release the remaining 30 Israeli hostages once a permanent ceasefire is established, while Israel would halt all military operations in Gaza as soon as the truce begins. The Israeli military would then gradually withdraw troops. Previous efforts to broker a ceasefire collapsed due to deep-rooted disagreements: Israel demands Hamas’ complete disarmament, dismantling as a military and governing body, and the release of all 58 hostages before ending the conflict. Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons and insists Israel must withdraw and cease hostilities.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of 251 Israelis. Since then, Gaza officials report over 54,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction. International pressure on Israel is growing, with many European nations urging an end to the fighting and increased humanitarian aid.
Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about reaching a long-term peaceful resolution, mentioning a forthcoming ceasefire term sheet. The proposed 60-day truce could be extended if permanent negotiations are not finalized. However, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri criticized the proposal, stating it largely reflects Israel’s demands without guarantees for war cessation, troop withdrawal, or aid access, which Hamas requires.
Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-backed group supported by Israel, expanded its aid efforts to a third location in Gaza. Despite criticism from the UN and other organizations regarding its limitations, GHF has distributed about 1.8 million meals and plans to open additional distribution points soon. The initial aid rollout faced chaos as thousands of Palestinians crowded distribution sites, forcing security personnel to retreat, increasing calls for Israel to ease the blockade and halt fighting to allow effective humanitarian relief.
