• Hamas formally accepts Trump-backed ceasefire proposal, signaling major breakthrough after 21 months of war.
• Group demands guarantees from Trump administration before full implementation of 60-day truce.
• Israel agrees to deal terms involving hostage release and expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza.
• Experts divided: Some hail it as a path to peace, others warn Hamas may use truce to regroup.

President Trump is making history. He is likely strengthening his case for a Nobel Peace Prize by brokering peace across some of the world’s most volatile conflicts. After mediating an end to a near-nuclear standoff between Pakistan and India, and paving the way for peace between two African nations and even an unprecedented truce between Israel and Iran, Trump may now be on the verge of sealing a ceasefire in the devastating Israel-Gaza war.

In a significant development, Hamas has formally issued a “positive response” to a Trump-backed ceasefire proposal, delivered through Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group announced on Friday its readiness to enter into immediate negotiations with Israel to implement a deal that would pause hostilities in Gaza for 60 days — a critical window for diplomatic talks toward a permanent end to the war.

“The movement has submitted its positive response to the mediator brothers,” Hamas said in its statement. “It is fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations.”

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While Hamas has not yet disclosed the changes or conditions it seeks, sources familiar with the matter say the group has accepted the deal in principle, but is demanding clear guarantees from the Trump administration to ensure the agreement’s implementation and durability.

Ceasefire Deal: What’s on the Table

According to a summary of the latest draft, dated June 30, the ceasefire plan includes:

• A 60-day pause in fighting

• Release of 28 Israeli hostages (10 alive, 18 deceased) in five stages

• Unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza, facilitated by the U.N. and the Palestine Red Crescent Society

• Continued negotiations toward a permanent end to hostilities

• Guarantees from the U.S. government, under Trump’s leadership, to uphold the terms and facilitate future talks

Despite optimism, it remains unclear whether Hamas’s acceptance refers to this exact version of the deal or whether further modifications are under discussion.

War Status and Humanitarian Crisis

The war — now nearing 21 months since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, surprise attack that killed roughly 1,200 Israelis — has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead, largely due to Israel’s intense military campaign in Gaza.

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The enclave’s infrastructure has collapsed under months of bombardment. The International Committee of the Red Cross warns Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed, running out of basic supplies and even body bags.

According to the United Nations, aid convoys are being targeted, and Palestinians are being shot at while trying to reach food distribution points.

“Today, Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying desperately to feed their families,” said a coalition of over 200 humanitarian and human rights organizations earlier this week.

U.S. and Israeli Reactions

President Trump, speaking on Tuesday, confirmed that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire conditions and urged Hamas to do the same.

“This is a historic moment. If both sides commit, we will see the end of a war that has devastated too many lives,” a senior U.S. official said on background.

The State Department later stated it had “nothing to add” beyond the President’s remarks.

Hamas prepared to negotiate over implementation of ceasefire proposal

Inside Israel, views are divided. While Israeli defense officials have reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the main military goals have been achieved, Netanyahu has resisted a deal that includes a full troop withdrawal — a key demand from Hamas — largely due to pressure from far-right members of his governing coalition.

“The far-right wants a total occupation of Gaza, but the military knows that’s no longer sustainable,” said Yossi Klein Halevi, an Israeli political analyst. “There’s a growing realization that hostages won’t come home without a deal.”

A palestinian human rights experts haied U.S proposal terming it need of the hour.

“This is a pivotal moment. Hamas’s formal willingness to engage under U.S. mediation reflects the growing desperation on the ground but also a strategic pivot,” said Dr. Nour Odeh, a Palestinian political analyst. “The real test is whether Washington will enforce its own guarantees and hold Israel accountable if it derails the deal.”

However, Michael Oren advised Israel must be cautious.

“We must be cautious. Hamas has used ceasefires before to regroup,” said Michael Oren, former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. “But if Trump can secure a deal that ensures hostage returns and sustained quiet on the border, it could be a diplomatic masterstroke.”

Background on the Conflict

• October 7, 2023: Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

• Israel responded with one of the most intensive bombing and ground campaigns in its history, razing vast swaths of Gaza.

• In July 2024, Hamas’s top political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an airstrike.

• Meanwhile, tensions spread regionally, including to Lebanon, where a separate ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hezbollah in late 2024.

Despite months of diplomacy, the war has dragged on, with no resolution — until now, potentially.

What’s Next

Negotiations are expected to resume imminently in Doha or Cairo, sources say, with the U.S. likely playing a direct role under President Trump’s direction.

Whether this results in a full ceasefire, a temporary pause, or another diplomatic impasse remains to be seen. But for the first time in many months, both sides appear at the negotiating table with a viable framework — and a U.S. President playing global peacemaker at the center of it all.