Trump Signals Breakthrough as Hamas Shows Willingness for Gaza Ceasefire Talks
&nbsp;In a potentially significant development in the long-running <a title="Hamas" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/idf-eliminates-rocket-cell-hits-150-gaza-targets-in-24-hours/15666" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gaza</a> conflict, US President Donald Trump on Friday claimed that Hamas had responded "in a positive spirit" to a ceasefire and hostage-release proposal brokered with the help of American mediation. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed cautious optimism, hinting that a deal might be within reach as early as next week.
While he admitted he had not received a full briefing on the current state of negotiations, the President's remarks suggest renewed diplomatic movement in efforts to halt months of bloodshed between <a title="Israel" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/idf-kills-top-mujahideen-commander-in-central-gaza-strike/14440" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel</a> and Hamas. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a good thing,&rdquo; Trump told reporters, referring to Hamas's reply, adding, &ldquo;there could be a deal by next week.&rdquo;
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Hamas, the armed Palestinian group controlling the Gaza Strip, confirmed on Friday evening that it had submitted its response to the proposed ceasefire framework to mediators from Qatar and Egypt. &ldquo;We have handed the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, our response to the ceasefire proposal,&rdquo; a Hamas official said, characterising the reply as one that could help &ldquo;facilitate reaching a deal.&rdquo;
In a formal statement, the group added, &ldquo;The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly mediators, which was characterised by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework.&rdquo;
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The proposal under discussion outlines a phased ceasefire beginning with a 60-day truce, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, and a mechanism for humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza. Hamas, according to sources involved in the mediation effort, has signalled its readiness to move ahead &mdash; but not without conditions.
While Hamas&rsquo;s official statement omitted any mention of reservations, a diplomatic source familiar with the talks revealed that the group has raised three major concerns. One of the key sticking points is the ceasefire&rsquo;s potential extension beyond the initial 60-day period. The draft currently stipulates that the truce can be prolonged provided both parties are negotiating in good faith. Hamas reportedly seeks more definitive language, fearing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could use this clause to justify resuming military operations &mdash; as witnessed during the breakdown of a prior agreement in March.
Hamas is pressing for the terms to ensure negotiations on a permanent ceasefire continue without a time-bound condition, a stance Israel has resisted. Tel Aviv fears this could allow Hamas to indefinitely delay any final settlement while leveraging the truce to regroup.
The second major issue revolves around the mechanism for aid delivery. Hamas is demanding that all humanitarian assistance resume through internationally recognised channels, particularly under the supervision of the United Nations and other global aid agencies. The group remains deeply sceptical of the existing US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, through which aid currently flows. Under the status quo, Israel exerts tight control over the quantity and nature of aid permitted into the besieged enclave &mdash; a system Hamas deems unacceptable.
Despite these obstacles, Hamas has declared itself &ldquo;fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations,&rdquo; signalling that the door to diplomacy remains ajar. Proximity talks &mdash; indirect discussions mediated by third parties &mdash; are expected to follow if both sides agree to the proposal&rsquo;s basic framework.
Meanwhile, Trump also commented on Iran, stating that Tehran had refused to allow inspections of its nuclear programme or halt uranium enrichment. He nonetheless claimed Iran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions had been &ldquo;permanently&rdquo; set back, though he warned that the Islamic Republic could still attempt to revive the programme at undisclosed locations. He added that the matter would be high on the agenda during his upcoming meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.
The emerging contours of a possible truce, if realised, could mark a turning point in the deadly Gaza conflict. However, given the deep mistrust and wide gaps between the parties, the path to peace remains precarious. The coming week could prove critical &mdash; not just for the people of Gaza and southern Israel, but for the fragile regional balance at large.

Hamas and Israel airstrike on Gaza and IDF operations

US President signals potential Gaza truce deal as Hamas responds ‘positively’ to proposal

Trump claims Hamas ready for Gaza ceasefire talks

US President signals potential Gaza truce deal as Hamas responds ‘positively’ to proposal

July 5, 2025 | 15:10 IST