Hamas Accepts Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Agrees To Release Hostages, Bodies

Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire proposal from international mediators, raising hopes of a breakthrough in the 23-month war with Israel.

A Hamas official told AFP on Monday that the group and allied factions agreed to the plan “without requesting amendments.” Mediators led by Egypt, Qatar, and backed by the U.S. are expected to formally announce the deal and set a date for resumed talks.

According to negotiators, the agreement includes a 60-day truce, with Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages and several bodies in the first phase.

The remaining captives would be freed in a second phase, alongside talks for a permanent ceasefire with international guarantees.

Out of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 declared dead by Israel.

The assault killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians. Israel’s retaliation has since killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

The Israeli government has yet to issue an official response.