Hope Amid Horror: Hamas Signals Readiness for Ceasefire as Gaza Crisis Deepens
Gaza, July 5 — After nearly two years of relentless war and unimaginable loss, a fragile beam of hope emerged Friday as Hamas confirmed it had responded “in a positive spirit” to a U.S.-proposed ceasefire deal, signaling its willingness to restart hostage negotiations and talk peace.
The deal, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, proposes a 60-day pause in fighting—something war-weary families on both sides have been praying for.
“We’ve listened, we’ve consulted, and now we are ready,” Hamas declared through its official channels, expressing openness to discussions that could finally lead to a framework for ending the bloodshed. The group said it had coordinated closely with Palestinian factions and delivered its feedback to mediators, including Egypt and Qatar.
Still, obstacles remain. A Palestinian official allied with Hamas pointed to sticking points around humanitarian aid, safe passage through the Rafah crossing, and clarity on when Israeli forces might withdraw.
President Trump, addressing reporters earlier this week, expressed cautious optimism. “We hope it’s going to happen. We’re looking forward to it happening sometime next week,” he said, emphasizing the need to “get the hostages out.”
Trump added that Israel had agreed to the proposal’s conditions. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Monday—hasn’t yet commented publicly. Netanyahu’s consistent stance has been that Hamas must be disarmed—something Hamas hasn’t agreed to.
Israeli officials have confirmed receipt of Hamas’ response and are reviewing it. Egyptian mediators noted “positive signs” but acknowledged unresolved demands.
The Human Cost Behind the Headlines
The numbers are devastating. More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, many of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials. In the last 24 hours alone, 138 lives were lost. Among them were 15 displaced Palestinians killed in an airstrike on a tent encampment west of Khan Younis.
In that same city, 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr mourned her brother Mahmoud. “He went out to get aid, just to find a bag of flour for us to eat. He got a bullet in his neck,” she said through tears. “There should have been a ceasefire long ago.”
Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, desperation met determination. Families of hostages still held in Gaza gathered outside the U.S. Embassy, marking American Independence Day with a plea: make the deal. They laid out a symbolic Sabbath dinner table with 50 empty chairs, representing those still in captivity.
“Only you can make the deal,” said Gideon Rosenberg, whose employee Avinatan Or was taken hostage from the Nova festival massacre on October 7, 2023. “We want one beautiful deal. One beautiful hostage deal.”
Official sources suggest the current proposal includes the return of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others.
Ruby Chen, father of 19-year-old American-Israeli soldier Itay—believed to have been killed in captivity—urged Netanyahu to return from Washington with a plan that brings everyone home. “Don’t come back empty-handed,” he said.
As the war rages on, the people—ordinary men, women, and children—are left to carry the heaviest burden. Hunger, loss, fear, and trauma have become daily realities. Yet amid all this, a glimmer of hope remains: that words will replace weapons, and that humanity will rise above politics.
For the sake of the living—and the memory of the dead—the world watches and waits.