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Hamas signals readiness for immediate Gaza ceasefire talks amid escalating violence
Hamas has announced its willingness to engage in immediate ceasefire negotiations with Israel following a new proposal from international mediators. The group stated on Friday that it had completed internal consultations with other Palestinian factions regarding the framework for a potential truce.
In a statement shared by Al Jazeera, Hamas expressed its readiness to “immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework.” The announcement comes as Gaza endures its 21st month under relentless Israeli assaults, which have left the Palestinian enclave in a dire humanitarian crisis.
A fragile diplomatic opening
The proposed ceasefire includes a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release half of the Israeli hostages still alive in exchange for Israel freeing Palestinian prisoners. Despite this potential breakthrough, skepticism remains over Israel’s commitment to the process, given its continued military aggression in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss the ceasefire plan. While Trump has publicly advocated for a truce, critics highlight the contradiction between his statements and the extensive financial and military aid the US continues to provide to Israel.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
Even as discussions of a ceasefire gain traction, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have intensified their attacks on Gaza. On Friday, Gaza’s Civil Defense reported 52 Palestinians killed in airstrikes and other assaults, including 11 near humanitarian aid sites. International aid organizations have struggled to deliver essential supplies to civilians, who face acute shortages of food, water, and medical resources.
Reports have also surfaced of IOF soldiers targeting Palestinians waiting for aid at distribution points managed by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Witnesses and media outlets claim this has become a routine practice, further exacerbating the suffering of Gaza’s population.
UN report exposes corporate complicity
Amid the ongoing violence, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories has released a damning report detailing corporate complicity in Israel’s military campaign and displacement of Palestinians. The report, authored by Francesca Albanese, identifies 48 companies, including major US firms such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet Inc. (Google’s parent company), as benefiting from activities that violate international law.
The findings, set to be formally presented in Geneva next week, reveal over 1,000 corporate entities linked to Israel’s occupation and military actions. Albanese’s report describes Gaza as an environment where weapons manufacturers and tech firms profit from minimal regulation and no accountability, fostering what she calls a “genocidal” campaign.
Challenges to a lasting truce
Despite the ceasefire proposal, previous attempts to broker peace have failed due to disagreements over key issues, including prisoner exchanges, troop withdrawals, and reconstruction efforts. The current initiative represents the most significant diplomatic advance in months, but whether it can halt the violence in Gaza remains uncertain.
The situation in Gaza underscores the urgent need for international intervention as civilians endure unimaginable suffering under continued military operations. For many, the proposed ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope amidst a landscape of devastation.
