Ghaza( The COW News Digital)In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Palestinian resistance group Hamas has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire with Israel, according to Egyptian government sources. The truce, if finalized, would include the exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails.
The agreement, mediated by Egypt and Qatar with the backing of the United States, marks the most concrete step toward de-escalation since the war erupted on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’s surprise assault on Israel. The deal reportedly allows for the release of half of the hostages currently held in Gaza, in exchange for a substantial number of Palestinian prisoners.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim confirmed the development in a statement posted on Facebook, adding that other Palestinian factions had also conveyed their consent to the mediators. On the Israeli side, while no official response has been issued, an Israeli official acknowledged that the agreement had been received.
Despite the diplomatic progress, the situation on the ground remains dire. Israeli bombardment intensified across eastern Gaza City, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee toward the western and southern areas. Eyewitnesses reported that on Monday, at least nine Israeli tanks and bulldozers advanced into the Al-Sabra neighborhood, signaling continued military pressure.
Israel’s military leadership maintained a hardline stance. Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli Chief of Staff, declared that Israel had reached a “decisive stage” in the war and would intensify strikes against Hamas. Similarly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video address, suggested that Hamas’s willingness to consider a truce reflected the “immense pressure” the group is currently under.
The war has already taken a devastating toll. Nearly two years since its outbreak, Gaza has been left in ruins, with tens of thousands killed or displaced. Inside Israel, public discontent is rising. Over the weekend, thousands of demonstrators marched in Tel Aviv and other cities, demanding that the government prioritize hostage release through a ceasefire agreement.
Egyptian mediators believe this proposed 60-day truce could pave the way for a broader political settlement, potentially opening the door to ending one of the region’s bloodiest conflicts in recent memory. Whether both parties can hold to the terms, however, remains uncertain.
