Hamas expected to issue conditional nod on ceasefire deal

Mediators hope to seal a deal within days as Hamas seeks adjustments on troop pullback, humanitarian aid, and prisoner release numbers.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

Negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas appear to be gaining traction, although key hurdles remain, according to Ynet.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to arrive in Europe for meetings with Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and a senior Qatari official in a bid to lock in details of the proposed deal.

While Hamas has yet to issue a formal response, Israeli officials say mediators expect the group will tentatively accept the offer—albeit with several conditions that would require further talks.

A senior Israeli source told reporters that Hamas is likely to demand changes to IDF troop deployment maps and insist on specific provisions related to humanitarian aid.

“There’s positive momentum,” the source said, “but there’s still work to be done.”

Among the sticking points is the IDF’s presence along the Philadelphi Corridor, near the Egypt-Gaza border.

Israel is reportedly willing to withdraw troops by roughly 1,000 to 1,200 meters, while Hamas is demanding a pullback to 800 meters—a difference of just a few hundred meters, but symbolically significant for both sides.

Hamas is also expected to push for the release of an additional 100 to 150 long-term Palestinian prisoners, beyond those already agreed upon.

Despite the gaps, Israeli officials say the issues are surmountable and point to Witkoff’s involvement as a positive sign.

“The arrival of the U.S. envoy signals real potential for progress,” one official said.

Arab sources speaking to Al-Hadath confirmed that mediators are under pressure to finalize a deal within days.

Hamas is insisting that all humanitarian assistance to Gaza be funneled exclusively through United Nations agencies.

Israel, meanwhile, is pushing for at least some aid to be handled through American-run logistics hubs.

Israeli negotiators are bracing for a conditional acceptance from Hamas, which has a history of leveraging negotiations to maximize its demands.

Should talks continue to advance, Witkoff is expected to head to Doha to help shepherd the process toward a finalized agreement.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a high-level strategy session on Tuesday evening with his negotiation team in Doha to assess the latest developments and prepare for next steps.

While the road ahead still involves careful diplomacy and compromise, mediators remain cautiously optimistic that a breakthrough could be within reach