Hamas says it needs more time to review a new Gaza peace proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump. The plan, which has been endorsed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 72 hours, the disarmament of Hamas, and a phased Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. This would be followed by a transitional authority led by Trump himself.
A Hamas official, speaking anonymously, stated that internal consultations are ongoing and that the group requires additional time before making a decision. Senior Hamas member Mohammad Nazzal added that the proposal contains “points of concern,” and that the group’s official position would be announced soon.
Meanwhile, heavy Israeli bombardment continued in Gaza City on Friday. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 11 people killed across the territory, including eight in Gaza City. The UN reiterated that there is no safe place in Gaza, with a UNICEF spokesman calling Israel’s designated safe zones “farcical” and “places of death.”
The war, now nearing its two-year mark, was triggered by Hamas’s October 7th, 2023 attack on Israel. According to Israeli figures, the attack killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. The retaliatory Israeli offensive has killed at least 66,225 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, with women and children making up more than half of the casualties.
