Hamas agrees to new Gaza cease-fire proposal as Israel counters with alternative plan
Palestinians struggle to survive their daily lives in makeshift tents among the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks after the ceasefire agreement came into force in Beit Lahia, Gaza on February 18, 2025. (AA Photo)
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas agreed late Saturday to a new cease-fire proposal for the Gaza Strip, presented by Egypt and Qatar, expressing hope that Israel would not obstruct the plan.
Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas in Gaza, confirmed the agreement during a televised address on Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. He stated, “We received a proposal two days ago from our brothers in Egypt and Qatar, who are mediating the talks. We engaged with the proposal positively and accepted it, and we hope that the occupation will not sabotage it or undermine the mediators’ efforts.”
Al-Hayya did not disclose specifics about the proposal. However, international media reports in recent days indicate that Egypt and Qatar’s cease-fire proposal includes a second phase of the cease-fire and a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, which would begin after a period of calm.
“We fully adhered to our commitments and worked with the mediators to ensure Israel would abide by its obligations. However, it reneged on the entire agreement once the first phase concluded,” al-Hayya added.
Cease-fire deal before Jewish Passover holiday
Later, the Yedioth Ahronoth Israeli newspaper reported that Tel Aviv had submitted its own alternative proposal for a cease-fire and prisoner exchange, demanding that Hamas release 10 captives instead of five, as stipulated in the Egyptian proposal. The paper cited well-informed sources, stating that Israel “hopes to reach a cease-fire agreement before the Jewish Passover holiday,” which takes place between April 12 and 20.
Earlier Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Tel Aviv had responded to the mediators’ proposal with an alternative, which had been fully coordinated with Washington. However, neither proposal’s details were disclosed.
The latest developments follow a surprise Israeli aerial campaign on Gaza launched on March 18, which killed more than 920 people and injured over 2,000, shattering the previous cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement.
Since October 2023, over 50,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and more than 114,000 have been injured in the ongoing Israeli military offensive on Gaza.
In November 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.
