Israel is seriously eyeing a fresh US proposal to end the fighting in Gaza and bring back its hostages, according to an Israeli official. This comes amid ongoing tensions in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with hopes for a Gaza ceasefire that could change everything.
The official, speaking anonymously on Sunday, revealed that the plan reached Hamas over the weekend. It’s being called “President Donald Trump’s proposal,” as reported by Xinhua news agency. Israel’s Channel 12 shared key details: Under this Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel would halt its push to take Gaza City. In return, all 48 hostages still held in Gaza—including around 20 believed to be alive—would be released on day one. This would happen in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Then, talks to fully end the war would kick off, with Trump’s mediation, and the truce staying in place during negotiations.
Hamas responded late Sunday, saying they’ve received multiple US proposals and are ready to jump into talks right away. They want a clear commitment to end the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a new committee of independent Palestinians to run the strip immediately. This shows both sides are pushing for progress in the hostage release and ceasefire talks.
Families of the hostages aren’t waiting around. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of those captured in Gaza, is urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to greenlight the deal. “We call on the Israeli government to announce its unconditional support for the emerging agreement,” they stated, highlighting the urgency in the Israel-Hamas war.
Netanyahu hasn’t commented yet on this latest push, even though he skipped a partial deal that Hamas okayed last month. On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: “The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well.” He warned that turning it down could lead to serious consequences for the ongoing conflict.
This proposal arrives as Israel restarted military actions in Gaza on March 18. Gaza health authorities reported on Sunday that at least 11,911 Palestinians have died and 50,735 wounded since then. That pushes the total death toll since October 2023 to 64,455, with 162,776 injured—a stark reminder of the human cost in the Israel-Gaza war.
