Location at a glance: Waiting for Hamas: Can a ceasefire in Gaza succeed?

While Israel’s army continues their attacks against Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the USA continues to hope for a new ceasefire. According to the White House, Israel has already accepted a new proposal from the US government, but the terrorist organization’s response was still pending at night. Talks with all parties continue, said the spokeswoman for US President Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt. Meanwhile, the Israeli army called on the civilian population in several areas in the north of the Gaza Strip for immediate evacuation.

“Terroristic organizations carry out sabotage activities in the areas and therefore the army will expand its offensive activities there to destroy the skills of the terrorist organizations,” wrote an Israeli military spokesman for X. The areas are now “dangerous fighting zones”.

In the evening, too, the army claimed military facilities in the Hisbollah allied with Hamas. Despite the ceasefire that has been in force since the end of November, Israel reserves the right to attack the militia in the northern neighboring country.

Report: Hamas still has reservations

It remains to be seen whether there is also a new fire break in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of the hostages that he fundamentally agreed to the new proposal of the US specialist Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire, it said in Israeli media reports. The Hamas tends to accept the deal, but “reserved with some”, reported the “Times of Israel”, citing two non -mentioned sources. Accordingly, the negotiations are likely to last at least several days.

According to Israeli media reports, Witkoff’s new proposal provides for a 60-day ceasefire. Furthermore, ten hostages recorded in the Gaza Strip should be released in two steps within a week. In addition, the corpses of 18 deportants should be handed over, it said in several reports. In return, 125 Palestinians, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment, and 1,111 residents of Gaza, who had been arrested on October 7, 2023 since the terrorist attack on Israel since the terrorist attack. The corpses of 180 Palestinians should also be handed over.

Hamas refers to “interests of the Palestinian people”

Hamas had confirmed that he had received the US proposal from the intermediaries. In a message, the Palestinian terrorist organization also declared that he wanted to check the proposal “responsibly”. Each answer will be based on the “interests of the Palestinian people”.

According to her knowledge, Hamas has not yet agreed to the plan, said Trump’s spokeswoman Leavitt. She did not give details of the current proposal. However, the United States hoped that there would be a ceasefire. If there is an agreement, the White House will share this, said Leavitt.

According to the Israeli reports, discussions are to be held over an end to the war during the two -month ceasefire. In the event of an agreement between Israel and Hamas, the remaining hostages and the remains of other kidnappers should be handed over. According to Israeli information, there are currently at least 20 living hostages in Gaza. With three other kidnapped people, it is unclear whether they are still alive. In addition, the remains of 35 abducted people in the sealed area are suspected with countless underground tunnel systems.

Trump’s special envoy is optimistic

Hamas had recently rejected a temporary ceasefire. It demands the withdrawal of the Israeli troops from Gaza and a permanent end of the war. However, Witkoff, the US specialist, had optimistic about the chances of a possible ceasefire in the White House on Wednesday and a long-term peaceful solution to the conflict.

The war was triggered by the attack by Hamas and other Islamist terrorists to Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were delayed as hostages into the Gaza strips.

Embarks in Gaza tightened

Since then, Israel’s military has been fighting against Hamas in the – now large area. Almost two weeks ago, it started a new major offensive. Since then, dozens of deaths have been reported every day. The declared goal of Israel is to completely smash the Hamas and to get the last hostages recorded by extremists. There is massive criticism of Israel’s approach at home and abroad.

The emergency of the approximately two million people in the densely populated coastal strip has drastically intensified. The humanitarian situation is “more dark than ever before,” stated the UN-NOTILFBERO. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, more than 54,200 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war. A third of them are minors. The authorities’ figures do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.