Hamas Militant Group Agrees To A 60 Day Armistice In Gaza Strip

The Israeli military is in front of the entrance to the tunnel under the European Hospital Gaza. (Source: IDF)

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas has made partial and early responses to mediators on ceasefire proposals and hostage-taking deals in Gaza, but is expected to provide a final answer soon, sources told The National on Wednesday.

They said Hamas had unconditionally agreed a 60-day ceasefire in which adequate humanitarian aid would enter the Gaza Strip, particularly through Rafah's crossing with Egypt in the south of the war-torn enclave.

"Hamas has just submitted its response and the response of Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators," the group confirmed on Thursday, reported The National July 24.

Hamas has also agreed in principle to most maps proposed by Israel to re-place its troops in Gaza, but wants them to withdraw from Deir Al Batah in central Gaza at large military operations sites ongoing by Israel and Khan Younis in the south, the source said.

"Hamas is reviewing the map along with other resistance factions in Gaza," said one source.

"We expect the final and full response from Hamas in a few hours, but that could change," he added.

The sources spoke as US President Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, expected to arrive in Europe on Thursday and Qatar on Friday, a sign previously interpreted as a sign the deal had been reached.

However, the optimism of mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the US almost reached an agreement with Israel and Hamas was previously proven premature due to the stubborn attitude of Israel and Hamas.

Separately, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered an optimistic message on Wednesday during a visit to Gaza, telling the soldiers there was an "intensive negotiations" about the return of the hostages being carried there.

He said he hoped the soldiers would soon "live good news", according to a statement from the Presidential representative.

However, Hamas has yet to provide a final list of the names of hundreds of Palestinians who wish to be released from Israeli prison as part of the deal, they said.

The list will likely include prominent Palestinians serving the long prison sentence Hamas wants to release, but Israel insists on continuing to imprison them, they said.

The list is likely to include Marwan Barghouti, a senior leader of the mainstream Fatah faction who is widely predicted to be the successor to President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas is also expected to give the mediators a deadline for the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 others killed in detention, according to the source.

Hamas had previously proposed gradual release of the hostages during a 60-day ceasefire to ensure Israel's compliance with the terms of the agreement, but Israel appears to have rejected the deadline and proposed an alternative, which Hamas is currently reviewing.

Hamas is believed to have held about 50 people hostage, 20 of whom are thought to be still alive by the Israeli military.

In addition to the ceasefire and relief flows to Gaza, where hunger is increasingly claiming lives, key provisions of the latest proposal include discussions on Israel's long-term ceasefire and full withdrawal.

Hamas wants Uncle Sam's country guarantee that these negotiations will continue until an agreement is reached, but the sources say Hamas appears to have ignored these requirements.

Israel, furthermore, insists the war in Gaza will not end until the military's capabilities and the Hamas government are fully stripped and all hostages are released.

Israel also demanded that Hamas lay down its arms and its leaders leave the region to live in exile with their families.

Hamas rejected Israel's demand to surrender its weapons, instead stating they were open to discussing putting down arms and keeping them under international scrutiny when a long-term ceasefire was imposed.

They have also agreed to exile their leaders on the condition that they and their families are not attacked by Israel.

It is known that the latest conflict in Gaza broke out after a Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, leaving 1,200 people dead and another 251 held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

Israel responded to this by blocking, airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip region.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group agreed to a ceasefire as well as exchange of hostages and detainees on January 19. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. The majority of the initial hostages have been released through diplomatic negotiations, although the Israeli military has also released several hostages.

On March 2, Israel again carried out a total blockade against Gaza on the pretext of pressuring Palestinian militant groups to agree on a ceasefire proposed by the United States and a exchange of hostages. Over the end of the ceasefire agreement, Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18.

As of yesterday, Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip since the latest conflict broke out have reached 59,219 people, while another 143,045 were injured, according to a medical source in Gaza, quoted from WAFA.