According to a report by the Arabic media outlet Asharq Al-Awsat on July 3 (local time), the Palestinian militant group Hamas has expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire proposal put forward by the United States.
According to a source close to Hamas, the group responded positively to the proposal, which guarantees the start of negotiations on a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces during a 60-day truce period, and includes a commitment that hostilities will not resume during these talks.
The source added that Hamas will provide its response to the mediating countries before the evening of July 4.
However, another source pointed out that "there are no substantial changes in this proposal," noting that only minor details have been altered compared to the plan suggested last month by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, according to the same media outlet.
The New York Times reported that the ceasefire proposal calls for a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would return 10 surviving hostages and 18 bodies to Israel in five separate exchanges.
Notably, the New York Times cited a source close to Hamas who said that, unlike previous instances, Hamas does not plan to hold public propaganda events when releasing hostages and bodies.
The British daily The Times reported that senior Hamas officials residing abroad have been instructed to surrender their personal weapons. The Times interpreted this directive, which was conveyed through the mediator Qatar, as a symbolic measure in response to Israel's demand for Hamas to disarm.
The previous day, Hamas stated in an official announcement that it was reviewing President Trump's ceasefire proposal, emphasizing that its goal is to reach an agreement that guarantees an end to aggression, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and support for residents within Gaza.
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