Doha (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson stated on Tuesday that Hamas’s most recent Gaza ceasefire proposal is “almost identical” to an earlier plan presented by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
During a press conference in Doha, Majed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, stated that both Qatar and Egypt have received a favorable reply from Hamas regarding a ceasefire proposal intended to achieve “a comprehensive agreement to end the war.”
A day earlier, reports indicated that Hamas had accepted the most recent proposal from regional mediators for a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal to release hostages with Israel.
“Hamas, along with the Palestinian factions, relayed their acceptance of the proposal put forward yesterday by the Qatari and Egyptian mediators,”
Hamas stated in a brief statement on Monday.
What does the 60-day provisional ceasefire include?
The proposed deal follows discussions between Hamas and Egyptian and Qatari officials that have been taking place in Cairo in recent days. Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari stated that Hamas responded very positively, and their reply was nearly identical to what the Israeli side had previously agreed to.
The Qatari foreign ministry also mentioned that the proposal entailed a 60-day provisional ceasefire, during which several captives and prisoners would be exchanged, Israeli forces in Gaza would be repositioned, and aid to Gaza would be ramped up.
How many hostages would Hamas release under the deal?
As reported, Hamas would release approximately half of the remaining 50 Israeli hostages—about 20 believed to be alive—in two groups during an initial 60-day truce. Negotiations on a permanent ceasefire would also take place.
Israel’s reaction remains uncertain, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office stated last week that it would only agree to a deal if “all the hostages are released in one go.”
This new proposal follows Sunday’s demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel, where hundreds of thousands of Israelis called for a deal to secure the release of remaining hostages and bring the war to an end.
Throughout the day, protesters obstructed key intersections nationwide, organized a grassroots strike, and gathered in a large rally at Hostages Square.
