Hamas Signals Willingness to Negotiate Gaza Ceasefire as U.S. Pushes for Breakthrough Deal

 Gaza/Tel Aviv/Washington, July 6 — Hamas has responded “in a positive spirit” to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal aimed at halting the nearly 21-month-long war in Gaza, raising fresh hopes of a breakthrough amid one of the most devastating conflicts in the region’s modern history.

The group announced on Friday that it had completed internal consultations and discussions with other Palestinian factions and had submitted its formal response to mediators. The statement, published on Hamas' official website, confirmed its readiness to “immediately enter a new round of negotiations” on the implementation framework of the proposed truce.

“The movement’s response was characterised by a positive spirit,” the statement read, noting that Hamas is “fully prepared, with all seriousness,” to engage in further talks.

Trump’s Push for a Ceasefire

The development comes in response to what U.S. President Donald Trump described earlier this week as a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire, intended to halt hostilities and enable progress on a broader peace framework. Trump indicated he expected a response from both sides “within hours.”

While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to formally comment on the proposal, an Israeli official confirmed the government had received Hamas’ response and was currently reviewing it. Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday evening, welcomed the news with cautious optimism: “They said they gave me a positive response? Well, that’s good… There could be a Gaza deal next week.”

An Egyptian security official, whose country is co-mediating the process alongside Qatar, told Reuters that Hamas' reply “includes positive signs that an agreement is near,” although certain demands—particularly regarding humanitarian access, border crossings, and Israeli troop withdrawals—remain under negotiation.

Trump has signalled growing impatience with the Netanyahu government, stating that he intends to be “very firm” in pressing the Israeli leader toward a ceasefire when the two meet in Washington on Monday.

Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Amid Ceasefire Hopes

Despite signs of diplomatic movement, the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to mount. Palestinian health officials reported on Friday that Israeli military operations had killed at least 138 people in the past 24 hours.

Among the most harrowing incidents was a pre-dawn airstrike on a tent encampment west of Khan Younis, which killed 15 displaced individuals, according to medical staff at Nasser Hospital. The Israeli military claimed it had eliminated Hamas fighters, seized weapons, and destroyed infrastructure linked to the group in the past day, including 100 targets across the enclave.

As funeral prayers were held for the dead, a young girl, 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr, wept for her slain brother: “He went to get a bag of flour so we could eat. He got a bullet in his neck.”

The ongoing Israeli campaign has left more than 57,000 Palestinians dead, the majority of them civilians, and displaced over 2 million, according to local health authorities. Hunger, disease, and economic collapse are widespread across the densely populated territory.

Hostage Families Demand Resolution

In Tel Aviv, families of hostages held in Gaza held a symbolic protest outside the U.S. Embassy on Independence Day, urging Trump to finalise a deal that would ensure the safe return of their loved ones.

Demonstrators set a traditional Sabbath table with 50 empty chairs, representing those believed to remain in Hamas custody. Banners bore a post from Trump’s Truth Social platform that read: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”

“Only you can make the deal,” said Gideon Rosenberg, 48, wearing a shirt bearing the image of his employee, Avinatan Or, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the current proposal envisions the return of 10 living hostages during the 60-day truce, alongside the remains of 18 others believed to have died in captivity.

Ruby Chen, father of 19-year-old American-Israeli soldier Itay Chen—killed in the initial Hamas assault—urged Netanyahu to return from Washington with a deal in hand. “Bring them all back,” he said.

The war began with a surprise Hamas-led incursion into Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel’s retaliatory operations have since devastated Gaza, leaving much of the territory in ruins and exacerbating what aid groups describe as one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century.