The agreement includes a ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and a partial Israeli troop withdrawal. Details remain limited, and past efforts have collapsed at this stage, but both sides have confirmed their commitment to this initial phase.

Hamas stated that the deal covers a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a prisoner-hostage exchange. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would meet Thursday to approve the plan.

Hostage releases could begin within days, with living captives expected to be freed first. Hamas said retrieving bodies from the rubble will take longer.

Negotiations involved U.S., Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators. A U.S. delegation, including senior envoys, helped push the deal forward. However, issues like post-war governance of Gaza, Hamas’s future, and full Israeli withdrawal terms are still unresolved.

Arab states supporting the plan say it must lead to an independent Palestinian state. Israel’s leadership continues to reject that possibility.

Meanwhile, fighting has slowed but not stopped. Gaza authorities report over 67,000 deaths since the war began, while Israel cites 1,200 killed and 251 hostages taken in the initial Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

International pressure has mounted for a ceasefire. The U.N. and human rights groups have condemned the scale of destruction, with calls for urgent humanitarian access and a permanent end to hostilities.

He said the government did not support additional measures against Israel over Gaza and plans for the occupied West Bank.

“I have felt pushback in the cabinet for additional measures,” he said, adding he would formally tender his resignation.

The Dutch government collapsed on June 3, and the caretaker minority government is expected to stay in place until a coalition government is formed after October elections, which may take months.

Israel has launched a military offensive aimed at seizing control of Gaza City, relocating civilians to the south, dismantling Hamas and creating pressure for hostage releases.

Earlier on Friday a global hunger monitor determined people in Gaza City and its surroundings were officially suffering from famine. Israel has dismissed the findings as false and biased.

Israel this week gave final approval to plans to construct a settlement that would bisect the occupied West Bank and fragment territory Palestinians seek for an independent state.

This was Netanyahu’s first response to a temporary ceasefire proposal backed by Egypt and Qatar, which Hamas agreed to earlier in the week. An Israeli official confirmed that negotiators will be sent once a location is finalised.

While addressing Israeli troops near the Gaza border, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to Israel’s military objectives, including defeating Hamas and taking control of Gaza City. The city remains a densely populated centre within the Gaza Strip and has seen increased military activity, with thousands of Palestinians reportedly fleeing over the past ten days.

“At the same time I have issued instructions to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel,” Netanyahu said. He added: “We are in the decision-making phase.”

Earlier this month, the Israeli security cabinet, chaired by Netanyahu, approved plans to take Gaza City despite calls from key international allies urging restraint.

Israel maintains that any agreement must include the release of all remaining hostages. Approximately 50 hostages taken during the October 2023 attacks are still believed to be held in Gaza, with Israeli authorities estimating that about 20 may still be alive.

The current ceasefire proposal includes a 60-day pause in fighting, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and 18 bodies. In return, Israel would release roughly 200 long-term Palestinian prisoners. The proposal also outlines that, following the temporary truce, both sides would begin negotiations for a more permanent ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages.

Protests and Civilian Movement in Gaza

On Thursday, a protest took place in Gaza City, where hundreds of demonstrators marched carrying banners with messages including “Save Gaza, enough” and “Gaza is dying by the killing, hunger and oppression.” The protest was organized by several local unions.

“This is for a clear message: words are finished, and the time has come for action to stop the military operations, to stop the genocide against our people and to stop the massacres taking place daily,” said Palestinian journalist Tawfik Abu Jarad during the demonstration.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 70 people were killed in Israeli strikes within the previous 24 hours, including eight in a house located in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City. The Fatah movement reported that one of its leaders, a former militant, was among those killed, along with seven family members. The Israeli military has not issued a comment on the incident.

Military Preparations Continue

While there are signs that a ceasefire is being considered, Israel’s military preparations are ongoing. On Wednesday, the Israeli army called up 60,000 reservists, suggesting that plans to move forward with an operation in Gaza City are still in place. Such a mobilisation is expected to take time.

Netanyahu continues to face pressure from far-right members of his coalition who are opposed to any temporary truce and advocate for continuing the war, with some supporting permanent territorial control.

Civilians in Gaza City continue to seek refuge in other parts of the enclave. “We are facing a bitter, bitter situation, to die at home or leave and die somewhere else. As long as this war continues, survival is uncertain,” said Rabah Abu Elias, 67, a father of seven.
“In the news, they speak about a possible truce, on the ground, we only hear explosions and see deaths. To leave Gaza City or not isn’t an easy decision to make,” he said.

On Thursday, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on social media that the military had begun issuing initial warnings to medical and international organisations in northern Gaza, advising that residents should begin preparing to move south.

Adraee included a recording that he said featured an Israeli officer informing a Gaza health ministry official that hospitals in the south should be prepared to receive patients evacuated from the north.

A Gaza health ministry official confirmed the call took place. The ministry rejected the request, arguing that relocating medical resources would overwhelm already strained facilities and endanger more than a million people. The ministry also called on international organisations to intervene.

The same ministry reported two additional deaths due to starvation and malnutrition, bringing the total to 271 since the start of the war, including 112 children. Israel disputes the figures provided by the Gaza health authorities.

Albanese stated that Australia’s backing is intended to contribute to global momentum toward a two-state solution, promote a ceasefire in Gaza, and facilitate the release of hostages. He emphasized that recognition would be contingent on assurances from the Palestinian Authority that the militant group Hamas would play no role in a future Palestinian government.

“A two-state solution remains the most viable path to ending the ongoing violence and humanitarian suffering in the Middle East,” the Prime Minister said during a press briefing in Canberra.

He also noted that he had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging a political resolution rather than continued military action.

Last week, Australia voiced opposition to Israel’s proposed plan to assume military control over Gaza. Albanese said this latest decision was prompted in part by what he described as Israel’s disregard for international appeals and its failure to meet legal and ethical responsibilities.

The Prime Minister, alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong, condemned Israel’s ongoing expansion of settlements in the occupied territories, threats of annexation, and explicit rejection of a Palestinian state as actions that are undermining any prospect of a peaceful resolution.

Albanese highlighted commitments made by the Palestinian Authority, including plans for democratic reforms, disarmament, and the holding of general elections. He also referenced the Arab League’s demand for Hamas to step down from its authority in Gaza as a positive development, calling it a chance to marginalize the group.

“This moment presents a real opportunity to isolate Hamas and support a legitimate, peaceful Palestinian governance structure,” he added.

Foreign Minister Wong shared that she had communicated the decision to the U.S. Secretary of State. While some international leaders, including the U.S. President, have been critical of similar moves by other nations, Australia maintains that its decision is guided by the broader goal of long-term peace and security.

Israel’s ambassador to Australia publicly objected to the announcement, arguing that it threatens Israel’s security and may hinder ongoing negotiations to free hostages.

Until recently, the Australian government had been cautious about committing to a timeline for recognition, especially given the divided public sentiment on the conflict. However, growing domestic concern has influenced the shift. Earlier this month, tens of thousands marched across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge calling for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Albanese acknowledged that concerns over the destruction and human suffering in Gaza are not only voiced by international leaders but are widely felt within Australia.

Former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans welcomed the decision, saying it came at a crucial time and could amplify international pressure on Israel to alter its course.

Professor Donald Rothwell from Australian National University noted that formal recognition allows Australia to provide aid and support directly, participate in rebuilding Gaza, and establish legal agreements with the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian welcomed the announcement in an interview, describing it as a long-overdue step that offers hope to Palestinians, though stressed that securing a ceasefire remains the immediate priority.

New Zealand is expected to review its own position on Palestinian recognition later this month.

The ongoing conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters launched a deadly cross-border attack, resulting in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of over 250 hostages. Since then, Palestinian health authorities report that more than 60,000 people in Gaza have been killed by Israeli military operations, and much of the territory has been devastated.

Widespread malnutrition has been reported, with aid agencies accusing Israel of deliberately limiting humanitarian access. Israel denies the charge, instead blaming Hamas and claiming that significant aid has already been delivered.

In a video message posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had agreed to a ceasefire framework presented by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and other international mediators. He claimed Hamas had refused the proposal.

“We accepted the proposal. Hamas rejected it,” Netanyahu said, adding that the terrorist group seeks to remain entrenched in Gaza, rearm itself, and prepare for future attacks something he said Israel “will never allow.”

Netanyahu criticized media reports suggesting Israel had rejected the truce, accusing international outlets of echoing “Hamas propaganda” and being “repeatedly wrong.”

The prime minister made the comments after what he described as a “very successful” diplomatic visit, which he claimed had led to a “major victory over Iran” though no specific details were provided in the statement.

The proposed truce would reportedly involve a phased ceasefire, hostage release, and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza under international guarantees. However, talks have repeatedly stalled over Hamas’ insistence on a full Israeli withdrawal and Israel’s demand for security guarantees and the dismantling of Hamas’ military infrastructure.

The war in Gaza, now in its tenth month, has drawn international condemnation for its humanitarian toll. Multiple rounds of ceasefire talks mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have failed to produce a lasting solution.

WHAT’S NEXT:

• U.S. officials are expected to hold renewed talks in Doha this week.

• Netanyahu’s stance is likely to harden Israel’s negotiation position.

• No immediate response from Hamas had been issued at the time of this report.