Early Thursday, Hamas confirmed it had submitted its official response to the latest ceasefire proposal, backed by allied Palestinian factions, through mediators in Qatar and Egypt. The statement came after days of internal consultations over terms aimed at ending Israel’s devastating offensive.  

"We have delivered our position, alongside other Palestinian factions, to the mediators," Hamas declared, without detailing its demands. However, sources close to the negotiations revealed the response emphasised critical conditions: unfettered humanitarian access, a full Israeli withdrawal, and enforceable guarantees against renewed aggression.  

Talks in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Egypt with US involvement, have stretched over weeks, attempting to broker a lasting truce and prisoner exchange. While two fragile pauses were secured in late 2023 and early 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abandoned the latest deal in March, reigniting a military campaign that has since plunged Gaza deeper into catastrophe.  

Since October 2023, Israel’s assault has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, wounded 143,000, and displaced nearly the entire population, reducing much of the enclave to rubble. Palestinian and international observers describe the scale of destruction as unparalleled since the Second World War, with no end in sight to what rights groups condemn as a campaign of collective punishment.  

The ball now lies in Israel’s court, but with Netanyahu’s government repeatedly rejecting permanent ceasefire terms, hopes for relief among Gaza’s besieged civilians remain perilously slim.