Top News

Gaza: Following months of delayed discussions, Hamas said that it has “submitted a positive response” to a 60-day truce plan with Israel in Gaza, signaling movement toward a possible deal, CNN reported.

Hamas said in a statement on Friday that it had reacted favorably to the mediation and that it was prepared to start discussions on putting the framework into practice.

Hamas reportedly “submitted a positive response to the mediators, and the movement is fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations regarding the mechanism for implementing this framework,” the organization said.

According to CNN, Israel has already agreed to the US-sponsored plan, paving the door for the parties to start last-minute talks to iron out specifics before a truce is decided.

According to CNN, Palestinian-American interlocutor Bishara Bahbah, who has had direct communication with Hamas, expressed her gratitude for the reaction on Facebook, writing, “We are now much closer to ending this cursed war.”

Hamas, he said, had made “amendments it deemed necessary.”

“In my view, these amendments will not prevent reaching a ceasefire agreement within the coming week, God willing,” he said.

According to CNN, an Israeli source with knowledge of the situation said early Friday that a favorable reaction from Hamas was expected and that the modifications made to the proposed text were not expected to impede the negotiation process.

Ten of the fifty Israeli prisoners remained in Gaza, including eight who were alive on the first day, and would be freed during the truce, along with the remains of the other eighteen, according to the plan. A certain number of Palestinian detainees and inmates would be released in return.

Israel would leave portions of northern Gaza after the first release, and negotiations for a long-term ceasefire would start.

Hamas has been ordered to free the captives without holding any celebrations or public demonstrations. CNN said that the plan called for the release of other captives on four further days.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned that “it will not get better — it will only get worse,” urging Hamas to accept the ceasefire agreement.

“I hope that Hamas accepts this deal for the sake of the Middle East because things will only grow worse rather than better. I appreciate you taking the time to consider this. Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media network.

Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an assault in southern Israel that killed over 1,139 people, at least 57,130 Palestinians have been murdered and over 130,000 wounded, according to Al Jazeera. Cities, hospitals, and schools have been extensively destroyed, and hundreds of thousands have been uprooted many times in Gaza. According to UN assessments, Israeli forces now control 85% of Gaza.