Hamas leaders convene for Gaza truce negotiations on new proposal

Hamas leaders are nearing acceptance of a proposed truce in Gaza but are seeking firmer assurances that any halt in fighting would result in a lasting resolution to the 20-month conflict, according to sources familiar with the group.

Hamas representatives convened in Istanbul on Thursday to review the latest truce proposal, later stating they were consulting with other Palestinian factions before formally responding.

In recent months, the group has faced significant pressure as its military leadership has been weakened and Israeli forces have pushed its fighters out of former strongholds in southern and central Gaza.

In the past few days, Israel has intensified its offensive, conducting a series of airstrikes across Gaza that have left more than 250 Palestinians dead, including many women and children, based on reports from medical and rescue personnel.

Some hardline factions within Hamas have reluctantly acknowledged the necessity of a ceasefire to allow the group to reorganize and strategize, according to one source familiar with internal discussions.

Since the collapse of a previous truce in March, over 6,000 people have been killed in Gaza, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.

Momentum for a new ceasefire grew after the US facilitated a truce that ended the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran last month.

Israel’s prime minister is scheduled to travel to Washington on Sunday for talks about the Gaza conflict, the recent clashes between Israel and Iran, and other regional matters.

The prime minister has long hesitated to agree to a permanent end to the Gaza conflict, in part to maintain support from far-right partners in his governing coalition. However, Israel’s success in its recent confrontation with Iran has bolstered his political standing, and polls indicate strong public backing for a deal.

Earlier this week, US officials stated that Israel had accepted the terms necessary to finalize a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which efforts would be made to negotiate an end to the war.

Israel’s security cabinet met on Thursday night to deliberate its next steps in Gaza, including the possibility of escalating military action.

“Based on recent signals from Hamas, indirect talks are likely to begin in the coming days. If both sides agree to these discussions, an agreement is probable,” senior Israeli officials told a major domestic news channel.

A high-ranking official close to the prime minister mentioned that preparations were underway to approve the ceasefire deal. Another Israeli source stated that an Israeli delegation was ready to participate in mediated discussions facilitated by Qatar and Egypt if Hamas responded favorably.

The proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas attack that ignited the conflict, along with the return of the remains of 18 others, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.