US Pushes New Ceasefire Plan in Gaza Conflict

The United States has presented a new set of principles aimed at achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, calling for the immediate release of all hostages and the start of negotiations toward a comprehensive end to the ongoing war. According to Israeli officials familiar with the discussions, the principles have already been conveyed to Hamas through intermediaries. It remains unclear whether the plan represents a detailed ceasefire framework or simply outlines guidelines to reignite stalled negotiations.

Hamas confirmed on Sunday that it had received proposals from the US administration, describing them as “ideas” intended to move talks forward. In a statement, the group said it welcomed any initiative that could help stop what it described as aggression against Palestinians. Hamas expressed readiness to immediately engage in negotiations to secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for clear commitments from Israel to end the war. The group demanded a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian committee to govern the territory. It further stressed that any agreement must include a public and explicit commitment from Israel to ensure that the deal would not later be reversed or undermined.

Details of the US-backed proposal indicate that Hamas would be required to release all forty-eight hostages on the first day of a ceasefire, while Israel would halt its assault on Gaza City. Once this initial stage is implemented, the two sides would begin immediate negotiations on a broader and permanent settlement to the conflict. According to the officials, the fighting would remain suspended as long as the talks continued. Former President Donald Trump, who has made the Middle East conflict a centerpiece of his diplomatic efforts, has pledged to personally guarantee the ceasefire while negotiations proceed.

Trump reinforced his position in a message on social media on Sunday evening, declaring that both Israelis and Palestinians deserved an end to the war. “Everyone wants the hostages home. Everyone wants this war to end. The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. This is my last warning,” he wrote. Trump made the statement while attending the US Open tennis tournament in New York, where he was accompanied by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, both of whom have played roles in peace discussions.

The Israeli government reacted quickly to news of the proposal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement confirming that Israel was seriously considering Trump’s terms. The swiftness of the response suggested that the proposal was closely coordinated between Washington and Tel Aviv. However, the same statement also cast doubt on Hamas’s willingness to accept the terms, pointing out that the group had previously rejected similar ideas.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an organization representing relatives of those still held in Gaza, welcomed the US initiative as a breakthrough. In a statement, the group urged the Israeli government to fully back the proposal and support Trump’s mediation until all hostages were returned. They stressed that living hostages must be reunited with their families while the remains of the deceased should be repatriated for burial in Israel.

The announcement comes against a backdrop of intense fighting. Over the weekend, Israeli forces continued airstrikes in Gaza, including attacks on high-rise buildings in Gaza City. Images of Palestinians running for safety underscored the urgent humanitarian stakes in the conflict. The ongoing violence has deepened skepticism about whether either side is willing to make the concessions needed for peace.

The new US proposal follows a series of failed attempts by other mediators. In recent weeks, Qatar and Egypt put forward a ceasefire plan that was accepted by Hamas but not by Netanyahu. That plan had called for a sixty-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of ten living hostages and eighteen deceased hostages, with Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners. Observers noted that the deal was nearly identical to one Netanyahu himself had accepted only a month earlier, yet the Israeli leader abruptly reversed his position and demanded a more comprehensive settlement aligned with his maximalist stance.

Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that Israel will not settle for a partial deal that allows Hamas to regroup and continue fighting. He has demanded terms that guarantee Israel’s military objectives are met in full, including the dismantling of Hamas’s military infrastructure and guarantees that the group cannot regain control of Gaza. Hamas, for its part, has insisted on a complete end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal as conditions for releasing hostages. This deadlock has left thousands of families in anguish and prolonged the suffering in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions remain dire.

The new proposal from Washington is designed to break this impasse by offering a phased approach that starts with immediate humanitarian gains and creates space for broader negotiations. Analysts believe Trump’s direct involvement and his claim of Israeli support may increase pressure on Hamas to respond positively, though doubts remain about whether the group will see enough guarantees in the plan to risk giving up its bargaining leverage.

For now, both Israeli and American officials are waiting for Hamas’s formal response. The group has signaled a willingness to talk but has consistently tied any hostage deal to a full end of the conflict. Israeli officials remain skeptical that Hamas will accept terms that do not fully meet its conditions, especially given its repeated emphasis on securing an explicit and binding Israeli commitment to withdraw.

Whether this new initiative marks a genuine turning point or becomes another stalled effort depends largely on the responses in the coming days. What is clear is that the urgency of the crisis continues to mount, with pressure building on both sides to find a way to end the bloodshed. Families of hostages, international observers, and civilians on the ground are left waiting to see if this proposal will finally deliver progress where so many others have failed.