US sought to negotiate new deal with Hamas
Illustrative photo: US sought to negotiate new deal with Hamas (Getty Images)
The United States has offered Hamas militants the option to leave parts of Gaza in an effort to ease tensions and move toward stabilizing the ceasefire, but so far, no one has taken up the proposal, Axios reports.
Through Egyptian and Qatari mediators, the United States conveyed an initiative to Hamas, offering safe passage for its militants out of areas currently under Israeli military control. The proposal aimed to stabilize the ceasefire and clear nearly half of Gaza’s territory from the presence of armed groups.
US officials said the move was intended to de-escalate the conflict and pave the way for further humanitarian talks, including restoring civilian infrastructure and allowing international organizations access to affected areas.
Israel's response and current situation
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed they were aware of the proposal but said that by Thursday evening, no Hamas fighters had taken the opportunity to leave Israeli-controlled zones.
According to Israeli sources, Hamas continues to hold positions in densely populated neighborhoods, using civilian sites to shield its operations.
Officials in Jerusalem stressed that any diplomatic steps toward stabilization are only possible if Hamas completely ceases its attacks.
In Washington, officials emphasized that the initiative does not represent concessions, but rather an attempt to prevent further escalation and reduce risks to civilians.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that Israel has the right to respond to Hamas attacks, commenting on the latest ceasefire violation in Gaza.
Hamas militants have once again breached the ceasefire, reigniting clashes and casting doubt on the durability of the truce.
