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Hamas is demanding guarantees that a US-backed Gaza ceasefire will lead to ending the war, as Israeli strikes kill 59. Israel awaits Hamas' response before resuming indirect talks.
Palestinians inspect the damage at a school sheltering displaced people, following an overnight Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City. (Reuters Photo)
UPDATED: Jul 4, 2025 04:41 IST
As ceasefire negotiations intensify, Hamas is demanding clear guarantees that any new US-backed truce proposal for Gaza will not just pause the fighting, but lead to a permanent end to the war, a source close to the militant group said.
The insistence comes as Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 59 people across Gaza on the same day, underscoring the high human cost of delays in diplomatic progress. Nearly 21 months into the war between Israel and Hamas, momentum appears to be building for a breakthrough — if both sides can agree on the terms.
“Hamas is seeking clear guarantees that the ceasefire will eventually lead to the war’s end,” the source told reporters, highlighting a major sticking point in talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel had accepted the terms of a 60-day ceasefire, designed to allow space for negotiations toward a final resolution of the conflict.
While Hamas has not yet officially accepted the plan, the group said it was in consultation with other Palestinian factions and would issue a formal response to mediators shortly.
ISRAELI OFFICIALS ARE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
“If the Hamas response is positive, an Israeli delegation is ready to participate in indirect talks to finalise the deal,” said a senior official close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A second source familiar with the talks said Israel expected a reply from Hamas by Friday.
The proposal includes the staggered release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of the bodies of 18 more in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, an official familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday. Of the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza, 20 are believed to still be alive.
Egyptian and Qatari negotiators have reportedly sought international assurances that the two-month ceasefire would serve as a stepping stone toward a broader end to hostilities — an element that Hamas views as non-negotiable.
“Efforts for a Gaza truce gathered steam after the US secured a ceasefire to end the 12-day aerial conflict between Israel and Iran,” noted one Egyptian security source. “Now the priority is getting both sides to commit to deeper talks.”
But on the ground, Gaza continues to endure heavy bombardment. Medical officials reported dozens of civilian casualties from Israeli strikes on Thursday alone, as expectations mount for a breakthrough, but without guarantees, Hamas remains hesitant.
- Ends
(With inputs from Reuters)
Published By:
Aashish Vashistha
Published On:
Jul 4, 2025
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