Gaza City — Hamas announced that it has accepted a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Arab states, even as Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the Palestinian death toll from the 22-month conflict has surpassed 62,000.
The development comes amid deepening humanitarian concerns, with aid groups warning that Gaza is inching toward widespread famine. Despite Hamas’s acceptance of the plan, Israel has reiterated that its positions remain unchanged, particularly regarding the release of hostages and the disarmament of Hamas.
Hamas Agrees to Truce Plan
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed that Arab mediators — including Egypt and Qatar — have put forward a proposal for a 60-day truce. The plan envisions the release of some of the remaining 50 hostages in exchange for discussions on a permanent ceasefire and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Senior Hamas spokesman Bassem Naim told the Associated Press that the group had agreed to the plan, though he declined to provide details. Egyptian officials said the proposal closely mirrors earlier frameworks previously approved by Israel.
“Egypt and Qatar conveyed the Hamas-accepted plan to Israel,” Abdelatty said, noting that U.S. Ambassador Steve Witkoff has been invited to join the negotiations.
Israel’s Position Unchanged
Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that their demands remain firm: the release of all captives and the dismantling of Hamas’s military infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated in a televised address that Israel would continue its campaign until those objectives are achieved.
“Hamas is under massive pressure,” Netanyahu said, reacting to reports of Hamas’s acceptance of the ceasefire plan.
Mounting Humanitarian Crisis
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 62,004 Palestinians have been killed and more than 156,000 injured since the conflict began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault, which killed nearly 1,200 people in Israel and led to the abduction of 251 hostages.
The ministry reports that women and children account for roughly half of the fatalities, although it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The figures, compiled by medical professionals under Hamas-run authorities, are considered the most reliable by the United Nations and other independent monitors.
Aid groups warn that food insecurity is spiraling into starvation. The Health Ministry said two children and five adults died on Monday from malnutrition-related causes, bringing the total hunger-related deaths to at least 263 since June. At least 112 children have died of starvation since the conflict began.
Amnesty International accused Israel of carrying out a “deliberate campaign of starvation.” Israel has rejected the charge, insisting that it allows sufficient aid into Gaza and blaming the U.N. for delivery failures. The U.N. World Food Program, however, reported that community kitchens across Gaza are now producing less than half the meals they provided earlier this year.
Hostage Crisis Continues
The fate of hostages remains central to the negotiations. Israel estimates that around 20 of the captives still in Gaza are alive. While several were freed during earlier ceasefires, public anger is mounting inside Israel, with weekly demonstrations demanding their release.
Hundreds of Israelis rallied on Sunday against government plans to escalate the offensive, fearing it would further endanger those still held in Gaza.
Diplomatic Push Intensifies
Alongside Egypt and Qatar, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and senior Hamas commander Khalil al-Hayya have joined the talks in Cairo. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, largely sidelined during the conflict, also traveled to Egypt’s Rafah border crossing to support the mediation effort.
The latest ceasefire push marks a critical moment in the war, as international pressure mounts for a truce that could halt the devastating humanitarian crisis. Whether Israel accepts the Arab-brokered plan remains uncertain.
For the people of Gaza, however, the toll continues to rise as the fighting grinds on.
