Hamas Wants To Guarantee Ceasefire Will End The War In Gaza

JAKARTA - The Hamas group is seeking guarantees that a ceasefire proposal in the United States-backed Gaza Strip will end the war, the Palestinian militant group said on Thursday.

The prospect of reaching a ceasefire and a deal of hostages is increasing, Israeli officials said after nearly 21 months of the Hamas-Israeli conflict taking place since October 7, 2023.

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Israel had accepted the necessary conditions to resolve a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, where the parties would work to end the war.

The Hamas group said it was studying the proposal. Israel is also still discussing the details of the proposal.

In a statement on Friday morning Hamas said it was discussing a ceasefire proposal with other Palestinian factions and would hand over its response to the mediators after the talks were over.

Egyptian and Qatar mediators have sought to secure guarantees from the US and internationally that talks to end the war will continue as a way to convince Hamas to accept a two-month ceasefire proposal, Egyptian security sources said.

A senior Israeli official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said preparations had been made to agree to a ceasefire agreement. Separate sources familiar with the matter said Israel expected Hamas' response on Friday and that if its response was positive, the Israeli delegation would join indirect talks to strengthen the deal.

The proposal includes the gradual release of 10 surviving Israeli hostages and the return of the bodies of 18 others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli prisons, an official familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.

Of the 50 hostages estimated to be still in Gaza, 20 are believed to be alive.

The aid will soon enter Gaza, and the Israeli military will make a gradual withdrawal from parts of the enclave, according to the proposal. Negotiations will begin soon for a permanent ceasefire.

"We really hope this is a finished deal, but I think it will all depend on what Hamas is willing to accept," US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Israel's Channel 12.

"One thing is clear: The President wants this to end. The prime minister wants this to end. The American people, the Israeli people, want this to end," he said.

Huckabee added he would take part in talks next week at the White House, as PM Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Trump.

Israel says it will not end the war as long as Hamas is still armed and rules Gaza.

Meanwhile, Hamas said it would not lay down its arms but was willing to release all hostages still in Gaza if Israel ended the war.