Ceasefire soon? Hamas ‘reviewing’ latest proposal; IDF grants public full access to Gaza envelope towns in first since Oct 7

After U.S President Donald Trump announced that Israel approved the latest proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, the terror organization Hamas said on Wednesday that it is “reviewing” the outline, with several signs possibly pointing toward its agreement.

In a first official statement regarding the latest proposal, Hamas confirmed that “The mediators are making vigorous efforts to bridge the gaps between the parties and to reach a framework agreement that would allow the opening of a serious round of negotiations.”

“We are approaching the situation with great responsibility and are conducting national consultations to discuss the proposal conveyed to us by the mediators, with the aim of reaching an agreement that will ensure the end of the aggression, the withdrawal of the forces, and the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to our people in the Gaza Strip.”

According to The Times of Israel, an Egyptian official said Hamas is expected to send a delegation to Cairo to discuss the proposal with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Earlier Wednesday, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nounou said the group is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement,” and would accept “any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.”

Hamas has so far rejected agreeing to any ceasefire agreement that wouldn’t automatically lead to the final end of the war, which Israel has rejected.

Sources talking to the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat confirmed that Hamas forwarded the Qatari proposal to other Palestinian groups to form a national consensus toward a potential end to the war.

However, the group is reportedly dissatisfied with “ambiguous language” describing Israel’s commitment to withdraw its troops from Gaza.

The sources estimated that Hamas will probably still move forward in the talks while demanding amendments to the passages. According to Hamas officials, an agreement could be reached within a week or two if the proposal is amended.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, the IDF removed the last of the closed military areas around the Gaza border, enabling the public to return to some towns in the area for the first time since Oct. 7, signaling that Israel, at least, doesn’t expect further escalation in the area.

The military stated that there is “no security impediment” preventing the return of residents to their homes.

However, several areas outside of the towns will remain restricted, including a number of roads. Local residents, farmers and civilian IDF workers will be allowed to use some of them upon showing a valid ID.