Dubai (BN24) – Hamas said Monday it had accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, even as Israel signaled its positions remain unchanged. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the Palestinian death toll from nearly 22 months of war has now surpassed 62,000.
U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt on the fragile process, warning in a social media post that hostages would only be released “when Hamas is confronted and destroyed.” His remarks came as Israel moved forward with plans to reoccupy Gaza City and other densely populated areas following the collapse of earlier ceasefire efforts, deepening fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Mass protests swept through Israel on Sunday, with hundreds of thousands demanding the return of hostages still held in Gaza. Many families of abductees voiced anger over Israel’s expanded military campaign, which they fear could further endanger their loved ones.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said mediators are working to revive a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. Under the plan, some of the estimated 50 remaining hostages would be released, and negotiations would continue toward a permanent truce. Abdelatty confirmed that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has been invited to join the talks.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya have already engaged in the Cairo discussions. An Egyptian official told The Associated Press that the new proposal includes minor changes to Israel’s troop withdrawal schedule and provides guarantees for talks on a lasting ceasefire during the initial truce. The plan is said to be almost identical to one Israel previously accepted, though Jerusalem has yet to participate in the current round.
Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, said the government’s core demands remain unchanged: the full release of hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and enduring security control over Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Israel would not end the war until those goals were met, while framing Hamas’ acceptance of the proposal as a sign it was under “massive pressure.”
Gaza’s Health Ministry said 62,004 Palestinians have been killed and more than 156,000 injured since the war began, with women and children comprising nearly half of the dead. The ministry reported that nearly 2,000 people have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid since May, including in chaotic scenes around U.N. convoys. Witnesses and rights groups accuse Israeli forces of firing on civilians, though Israel maintains it only fired warning shots.
Meanwhile, aid groups warn Gaza is on the brink of famine. The ministry reported five new deaths from malnutrition on Monday, including two children, bringing the total of child deaths from hunger-related causes to at least 112. Amnesty International accused Israel of waging a “deliberate campaign of starvation,” an allegation Israel has rejected, blaming U.N. agencies for distribution failures.
The United Nations World Food Program said community kitchens in Gaza produced 380,000 meals daily last week, far below the more than 1 million meals provided in April, underscoring the growing humanitarian emergency.
associated press
