US President Donald Trump has said he is close to reaching a new ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war. The proposed agreement could lead to the release of more hostages and possibly bring an end to the conflict.
Trump held talks this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but so far, there has been no breakthrough. Hamas is still holding around 50 hostages, and only about 20 of them are believed to be alive.
Talks in Qatar have stalled, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources. The disagreement is mainly over how much territory Israel would give up in Gaza. Hamas rejected Israel’s latest proposal, which would keep about 40% of Gaza — including southern Rafah and areas in the north and east — under Israeli control. Hamas wants Israel to return to positions it held before resuming its military offensive in March.
The current US plan proposes a 60-day ceasefire, during which hostages would be released in phases, Israeli troops would withdraw, and talks would begin to end the war.
A Palestinian source said aid and clear guarantees to stop the war are still unresolved issues. The source believes stronger US involvement may help move talks forward.
Israel insists it will not stop the war until all hostages are freed and Hamas is removed as both a military and political power in Gaza. On the other hand, Hamas says it won’t release hostages unless there’s an agreement to fully end the war.
Meanwhile, violence continues in Gaza. On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians, including four children. Hospital officials in Gaza said 13 people were killed in Deir al-Balah, and 15 others died in Khan Younis. Additionally, 24 Palestinians were reportedly shot while heading to a food distribution site near Rafah.
The Israeli military said it only fired warning shots at people acting suspiciously and claimed it did not know of any deaths from the incident. However, Gaza hospital officials and witnesses reported otherwise.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 57,800 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. More than half of the victims are women and children. Although the ministry is run by Hamas, the UN and other international organisations consider its casualty figures to be the most reliable.
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