Cairo — Hamas has stated its readiness to reach a ceasefire agreement with Israel but maintained that any deal must lead to a complete and permanent end to the war in Gaza, as per a report by the Indian Express.
Speaking on Wednesday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu emphasized the group’s stance, saying Hamas is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement” and is willing to accept “any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.”
This statement came just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to accept the deal. Trump said the proposed ceasefire could be a critical window to work towards ending the prolonged conflict, though he acknowledged that Israel has refused to commit to a complete end to the war until Hamas is defeated.
The proposal reportedly includes a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a surge in humanitarian aid, and international guarantees to discuss a path to peace. However, Israel has not yet publicly commented on Trump’s announcement.
A Hamas delegation is expected to meet Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo to review the proposal further, according to Egyptian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The nearly 21-month-long war has seen repeated breakdowns in ceasefire negotiations, primarily over the condition of ending hostilities entirely. Hamas insists on the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of the remaining 50 hostages—fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive—in exchange for peace.
On the other hand, Israel demands that Hamas surrender, disarm, and accept exile—terms Hamas flatly rejects.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that left 1,200 dead and around 250 hostages taken, has devastated Gaza. More than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The war has displaced over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.
President Trump, who is expected to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 7, remains hopeful that a ceasefire agreement could be finalized soon. He warned Hamas on social media that the current offer “will not get better — it will only get worse.”
Despite skepticism over Israel’s intentions and the history of failed negotiations, Hamas believes the current moment presents a crucial opportunity to end the bloodshed and bring real relief to the suffering civilians of Gaza. The group remains committed to any initiative that ensures a complete cessation of the war, an end to the blockade, and the restoration of dignity and peace for the Palestinian people.
