Palestinians make their way in the Mawasi area of Rafah on July 24, 2025, after receiving humanitarian aid from an aid distribution point in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP
"The mediators have relayed Hamas's response to the Israeli negotiation team; it is currently being evaluated," a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
Hamas said on Thursday that it had responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, as pressure mounted for a breakthrough to end almost two years of devastating war that has triggered a humanitarian crisis for civilians.
Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas negotiators in the Qatari capital Doha for more than two weeks but the indirect talks have so far failed to yield an elusive truce.
International criticism is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading.
Palestinian group Hamas said in a statement on Telegram that it has "just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators".
Hamas's response included proposed amendments to clauses on the entry of aid, maps of areas from which the Israeli army should withdraw, and guarantees on securing a permanent end to the war, according to a Palestinian source familiar with the ongoing talks.
An Israeli official familiar with ceasefire talks told AP that a Hamas proposal was “workable” and that Israel was studying it.
The indirect talks in Doha began on July 6 to try to reach an agreement on a truce deal.
The Hamas response came as top U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to head to Italy Thursday to meet top Israeli negotiator Ron Dermer and discuss the ceasefire deal on the table, according to Israeli and U.S. officials.
For Israel, sending Dermer — a close Netanyahu confidant — to the meeting marks a show of seriousness in reaching a deal.
The response also comes a day after more than 100 charity and human rights groups said that Israel’s blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip toward starvation.
The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living captives and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies would be ramped up and the two sides would hold negotiations on a lasting truce.
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