The United States has put forward a 60-day ceasefire plan for Gaza that would halt Israel's military operations and initiate a large-scale hostage-prisoner exchange, in a deal guaranteed by Washington, Cairo, and Doha.

According to a plan seen by Reuters, the truce would begin with Hamas releasing 28 Israeli hostages—alive and dead—in exchange for 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 others. The remaining 30 Israeli hostages would be freed after a permanent ceasefire is secured.

The initiative is part of a broader diplomatic push to end a war that began following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, which resulted in about 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages. Since then, over 54,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli operations.

Israel Accepts Proposal, Hamas Reviewing Terms

The White House confirmed Israel’s acceptance of the proposal on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly informed the families of hostages about the decision, which was conveyed via Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

Hamas responded by stating it was examining the offer and would issue a formal reply within days. However, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri expressed concerns, saying the current terms reflect Israeli demands without concrete commitments to end the war or withdraw forces from Gaza.

Humanitarian Aid to Accompany Truce

If Hamas agrees, the ceasefire would immediately enable the delivery of humanitarian aid through the UN, the Red Crescent, and other approved groups. The plan outlines a gradual Israeli military redeployment from Gaza and a pause in all operations.

Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed and Israeli-endorsed group, expanded its operations to a third distribution site this week, although its launch was marked by chaotic scenes as desperate Palestinians overwhelmed the delivery points.

Diplomatic Stakes and International Pressure

This proposal comes amid rising global pressure on Israel, especially from European governments typically hesitant to publicly criticize Tel Aviv. There is also urgency to scale up food and medical aid, with the UN warning that nearly 2 million Gazans face famine risk due to Israel’s 11-week blockade.

Envoy Witkoff stated Wednesday that the US was nearing a breakthrough in efforts for a "peaceful resolution" and hinted the ceasefire could be extended if negotiations for a permanent truce stretch beyond the initial 60-day period.