A man mourns relatives killed in an Israeli airstrike, at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, in Gaza, on March 26, 2025. (Credit: Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP)
A senior Hamas official stated on Saturday that the Palestinian movement had approved a new cease-fire proposal for Gaza presented by mediators, while Israel confirmed it had submitted a "counter-proposal" to the mediators.
"Two days ago, we received a proposal from the Egyptian and Qatari mediator brothers. We [...] approved it. We hope that the occupation [Israel] does not obstruct it," said Khalil al-Haya in a televised speech marking Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "The resistance's weapons are a red line," he added.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a series of consultations yesterday in accordance with the proposal received from the mediators," his office said in a statement. "A few hours ago, Israel transmitted a counter-proposal to the mediators in full coordination with the United States," it added without providing further details.
On Friday, Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said that talks between the Palestinian Islamist movement and the mediators aimed at restoring the truce in Gaza were intensifying, as Israel continues its military operations in the small territory.
Palestinian sources close to Hamas told AFP that discussions began Thursday evening in Doha between the movement and Egyptian and Qatari mediators to revive a cease-fire and a hostages release agreement, after the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. A fragile truce that brought weeks of relative calm to Gaza ended on March 18 when Israel resumed its bombings of the territory.
The Doha talks started one day after Netanyahu threatened to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas did not release the hostages, and the Islamist movement warned that these captives would return "in coffins" if Israel did not stop its bombings. Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, had been at a standstill since the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire on March 1, which began on Jan. 19 after 15 months of war in Gaza.
The first phase allowed the return of 33 Israeli hostages, including eight who died, in exchange for the release of about 1,800 Palestinian detainees. Of the 251 hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war in Gaza, 58 are still held in the Palestinian territory, including 34 who are deceased, according to the Israeli military.
A senior Hamas official stated on Saturday that the Palestinian movement had approved a new cease-fire proposal for Gaza presented by mediators, while Israel confirmed it had submitted a "counter-proposal" to the mediators."Two days ago, we received a proposal from the Egyptian and Qatari mediator brothers. We [...] approved it. We hope that the occupation [Israel] does not obstruct it," said Khalil al-Haya in a televised speech marking Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "The resistance's weapons are a red line," he added."Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a series of consultations yesterday in accordance with the proposal received from the mediators," his office said in a statement. "A few hours ago, Israel transmitted a counter-proposal to the mediators in full...
Humanitarian convoy reaches Rmeish, Ain Ibl, Dibil despite obstacles
