Hamas said in a statement that it aims “to reach an agreement that guarantees ending the aggression, achieving the withdrawal (of Israel from Gaza) and urgently aiding our people in the Gaza Strip.”
The Palestinian group Hamas confirmed on Wednesday it is reviewing new ceasefire proposals from international mediators, just a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Israel had agreed to a 60-day truce in its ongoing military offensive on Gaza.
According to Gaza health authorities, Israel’s nearly 21-month-long war has left at least 57,012 Palestinians dead, more than half of them women and children. The Israeli military has also been accused of targeting journalists, healthcare personnel, and humanitarian workers. On Wednesday alone, at least 33 more Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli strikes across the territory.
In a public statement, Hamas said it is “conducting national consultations” on the latest proposals submitted by mediators. The group stressed its goal is to “reach an agreement that guarantees an end to the aggression, ensures Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and brings immediate humanitarian aid to our people.”
On Tuesday, Trump urged Hamas to accept the ceasefire plan, asserting that Israel had agreed to finalize the temporary truce. However, the Israeli government has not issued any official confirmation of this claim.
Without directly addressing Trump’s comments, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X (formerly Twitter) that a majority within the government and the public supports a deal to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.
“If the opportunity arises, it must not be missed,” Saar wrote.
Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during its 2023 attack, 49 remain in captivity, including 27 presumed dead, according to the Israeli military.
Civilian Casualties Continue
In the southern Gaza town of Al-Mawasi, which Israel had previously designated as a safe zone, five members of a single family were killed Wednesday when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced civilians, according to civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal.
AFP footage showed scenes of devastation — shredded tents, scattered belongings, and survivors sifting through rubble. One man, holding a package of diapers, asked: “Is this a weapon?”
“They came here thinking it was a safe area and they were killed. What did they do?” asked Maha Abu Rizq, a resident of the area.
Nearby in Khan Yunis, injured children were seen arriving at Nasser Hospital, covered in blood and bandages. One man carried a wounded child, screaming: “Children, children!”
Additional strikes were reported throughout the day:
- Four killed in a pre-dawn strike in Gaza City
- Five killed in a drone strike in Deir al-Balah
- Seven more killed in a later strike in Gaza City
- Five Palestinians shot near an aid distribution center in Rafah
- Two more died after a strike on a school housing displaced residents in Zeitun, a Gaza City neighborhood
Bassal reported a total of 33 deaths across multiple strikes, many of them in areas where civilians had gathered for aid. These incidents are part of a growing list of attacks targeting people awaiting food or shelter.
Due to media restrictions and lack of access, AFP says it cannot independently verify the death tolls or details provided by local rescuers.
In a statement, the Israeli military said its operations are focused on “dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities” and that it adheres to international law, taking “feasible precautions” to avoid civilian harm.
New Ceasefire Momentum
Trump announced on Tuesday via social media that Israel had agreed to the “necessary conditions” for a 60-day ceasefire, and said Qatari and Egyptian mediators would deliver what he called the “final proposal” to Hamas.
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump warned.
The announcement follows months of stalled negotiations and comes ahead of Trump’s expected meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week.
While the proposal raises hopes of a temporary halt to the devastating conflict, many observers remain cautious amid continuing violence on the ground and the absence of an official confirmation from the Israeli government.
