Hamas said Sunday evening it is prepared to immediately begin a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel aimed at resolving key points of contention, ending Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, and reaching a permanent cease-fire.

The announcement came after Hamas submitted its response Saturday to a cease-fire proposal presented by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Both the Israeli government and Witkoff later rejected the response.

“We welcome the continued Qatari and Egyptian efforts to reach an end to the war waged by the Zionist occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip,” Hamas said in a statement.

The group affirmed its readiness “to immediately begin indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on disputed points, in a way that ensures relief for our people, ends the humanitarian catastrophe, and leads to a permanent cease-fire and the complete withdrawal of (Israeli) occupation forces.”

GAZA CITY, GAZA – JUNE 01: Palestinians, including children in western Gaza City carry filled containers with water distributed by a water tanker, amid ongoing Israeli attacks and the continued closure of border crossings, which have severely limited access to clean water in the Gaza Strip on June 01, 2025. ( Abdul Hakim Abu Riash – Anadolu Agency )

Egypt, Qatar push for 60-day truce in Gaza

Earlier Sunday, Egypt and Qatar expressed hope for a swift agreement on a 60-day temporary truce between Israel and Hamas that could pave the way toward a lasting cease-fire, according to a joint statement.

Rejecting international calls for a cease-fire, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing more than 54,400 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local authorities. Aid agencies have warned of famine risks affecting over 2 million residents in the enclave.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice to its actions in the enclave.

June 01, 2025 10:10 PM GMT+03:00