Hamas confirmed on July 24 that it has officially responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, marking a critical step in efforts to end ongoing hostilities despite more than two weeks of stalled indirect negotiations in Qatar.
In a statement released on Telegram, the Palestinian militant group said, “Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators.”
According to a Palestinian source familiar with the Doha-based talks, Hamas’ reply includes proposed revisions to key clauses — particularly concerning the entry of humanitarian aid, the mapping of areas for Israeli military withdrawal, and firm guarantees for a permanent end to the conflict.
Negotiators from both sides have been engaged in indirect discussions in Doha, with international mediators working to broker a truce that would include the release of Israeli hostages. Of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 whom the Israeli military has declared dead.
However, the talks have yet to produce an agreement, with both parties accusing each other of inflexibility. Israel remains steadfast on its demand to dismantle Hamas’s military and governing infrastructure, while Hamas insists on a complete Israeli troop withdrawal, the unimpeded flow of aid into Gaza, and concrete assurances for a lasting ceasefire.
