Israel Waiting for Hamas: will a ceasefire in Gaza succeed?
While Israel's army continues its attacks against the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the USA is still holding out hope for a new ceasefire.
30.05.2025, 04:49
SDA
According to the White House, Israel has already accepted a new proposal from the US government, but a response from the terrorist organization was still pending at night. Talks with all parties were continuing, said US President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. Meanwhile, the Israeli army called on the civilian population in several areas in the north of the Gaza Strip to evacuate immediately.
"Terrorist organizations are carrying out sabotage activities in the areas and therefore the army will expand its offensive activities there in order to destroy the capabilities of the terrorist organizations," an Israeli military spokesperson wrote on X night. The areas are now "dangerous combat zones".
In Lebanon, the army also reportedly attacked military installations belonging to the Hamas-allied Hezbollah in the evening. Despite the ceasefire in place since the end of November, Israel reserves the right to continue attacking the militia's positions in the northern neighboring country.
Report: Hamas still has reservations
Whether there will also be a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip remains to be seen. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the families of the hostages that he agrees in principle to the new proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire, according to Israeli media reports. Hamas is inclined to accept the deal, but "with some reservations", reported the Times of Israel, citing two unnamed sources. The negotiations are expected to continue for at least several more days.
According to Israeli media reports, Witkoff's new proposal envisages a 60-day ceasefire. In addition, ten hostages held in the Gaza Strip would be released in two stages within a week. In addition, the bodies of 18 abductees were to be handed over, according to several reports. In return, 125 Palestinians who had been sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,111 Gaza residents who had been arrested since the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 were to be released. The bodies of 180 Palestinians were also to be handed over.
Hamas refers to "interests of the Palestinian people"
Hamas confirmed that it had received the US proposal from the mediators. In a statement, the Palestinian terrorist organization also declared that it would examine the proposal "responsibly". Any response would be "based on the interests of the Palestinian people".
To her knowledge, Hamas has not yet agreed to the plan, said Trump's spokeswoman Leavitt. She did not give details of the current proposal. However, the USA hoped that there would be a ceasefire. If an agreement is reached, the White House will make this known, said Leavitt.
According to Israeli reports, talks on an end to the war will be held during the two-month ceasefire. In the event of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, the remaining hostages and the mortal remains of other abductees should be handed over. According to Israeli information, there are currently at least 20 living hostages in Gaza. It is unclear whether three other abductees are still alive. In addition, the remains of 35 abductees are believed to be in the sealed-off area with its countless underground tunnels.
Trump's special envoy is optimistic
Hamas had recently rejected a temporary ceasefire. It is demanding the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a permanent end to the war. However, US special envoy Witkoff expressed optimism in the White House on Wednesday about the chances of a possible ceasefire and a longer-term peaceful solution to the conflict.
The war was triggered by the attack on Israel by Hamas and other Islamist terrorists on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
Emergency situation in Gaza exacerbated
Since then, Israel's military has been fighting against Hamas in the coastal region, which has since been extensively destroyed. Just under two weeks ago, it launched a new major offensive. Since then, dozens of deaths have been reported every day. Israel's declared aim is to completely destroy Hamas and free the last hostages held by extremists. There is massive criticism of Israel's actions at home and abroad.
The plight of around two million people in the densely populated coastal strip has worsened drastically. The humanitarian situation is "bleaker than ever before", according to the UN Emergency Relief Agency. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 54,200 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war. A third of these were minors. The authority's figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
