Hamas ceasefire negotiations remain ongoing as the group consults other Palestinian factions before giving its final response. On Friday morning, President Donald Trump said he expected to hear from Hamas within 24 hours on whether they agreed.
Earlier this week, Trump stated that Israel had accepted a 60-day ceasefire proposal meant to halt the nearly two-year war. Despite talks, Israeli airstrikes hit Khan Yonis overnight, killing 15 Palestinians in tents for displaced families, local officials said.
Israel’s military confirmed operations targeting Hamas but did not comment specifically on the recent deadly strikes in southern Gaza. Hamas said that the ceasefire proposal was reviewed on Friday with input from other groups mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
Their final decision, once ready, will be delivered to the mediators before being publicly announced, the group’s statement confirmed. The plan reportedly includes a staggered hostage exchange and phased Israeli military withdrawal from part of Gaza.
Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, and at least 20 are believed alive, according to figures given by US officials. Hamas also demands unrestricted food and medical aid flow through international agencies like the UN and the Red Cross.
In Tel Aviv, families of hostages held a rally near the US embassy, urging Trump to make the deal happen. Netanyahu, visiting Kibbutz Nir Oz, promised to recover all hostages but didn’t commit to ending military operations.
