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Israel Sends Delegation to Qatar as Ceasefire Proposal Emerges.
Israel and Hamas inch toward a potential 60-day ceasefire deal as Israel sends negotiators to Qatar, while ongoing airstrikes in Gaza kill at least 38 Palestinians.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) bids farewell to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he leaves the White House after a meeting on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump was meeting with Netanyahu to discuss ongoing efforts to release Israeli hostages from Gaza and newly imposed U.S. tariffs.
As Israel dispatched a negotiating team to Qatar ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, new details emerged Sunday about a proposed Gaza ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians inside the territory, according to hospital officials.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking before his departure, reaffirmed his commitment to the hostages and the war's broader objectives. “There are 20 hostages that are alive, 30 dead. I am determined, we are determined, to bring them all back. And we will also be determined to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” he said.
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A person familiar with the negotiations shared with The Associated Press a copy of the latest ceasefire proposal presented to Hamas by mediators. The document’s authenticity was confirmed by two additional sources familiar with the talks, all speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
The proposal calls for a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and 18 deceased individuals. Israeli forces would pull back to a buffer zone along Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt. The plan outlines the influx of humanitarian aid, which would be distributed by U.N. agencies and the Palestinian Red Crescent. It remains unclear what role, if any, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — an American group active since May — would continue to play, despite Israeli preferences for it to replace the U.N.-led distribution network.
In exchange, Palestinian prisoners would be released, though the exact number has yet to be finalized. The document does not guarantee a permanent end to the conflict but stipulates that negotiations toward that aim would proceed during the truce.
A significant component of the proposal is the personal guarantee by U.S. President Donald Trump, who would publicly announce the ceasefire and ensure Israeli compliance with the 60-day halt to military operations. This move appears designed to reassure Hamas after previous ceasefires collapsed when Israel resumed fighting.
Trump has previously stated that Israel had agreed to a 60-day truce, but it is unclear if the terms he referenced match those in the newly surfaced proposal. Hamas has requested changes to the document, although the specifics remain undisclosed.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the Israeli Security Cabinet had approved the delivery of aid into northern Gaza, where food scarcity remains critical. The official did not provide further details.
Northern Gaza continues to receive only limited aid since Israel ended the last ceasefire in March. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s nearest aid distribution point lies near the Netzarim corridor, which divides Gaza’s northern and southern regions.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes targeted two homes in Gaza City, killing 20 people and injuring 25, according to Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of Shifa Hospital. The Israeli military stated that it had targeted Hamas operatives in the area.
In southern Gaza’s Muwasi region, 18 Palestinians were killed in strikes, according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The dead reportedly included entire families living in tents near the Mediterranean coast.
“My brother, his wife, his four children, my cousin’s son and his daughter. ... Eight people are gone,” said Saqer Abu Al-Kheir, mourning during a burial ceremony.
Israel’s military reported striking 130 targets across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including command centers, weapons depots, and militant personnel.
As indirect negotiations with Hamas proceed in Qatar, Netanyahu’s office accused the group of demanding “unacceptable” changes to the ceasefire framework. However, Hamas issued a “positive” response on Friday, indicating potential progress.
Hamas insists on guarantees that the truce would lead to a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza — terms that have derailed previous talks. Netanyahu maintains that military operations will continue until Hamas is dismantled.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has resulted in over 57,000 Palestinian deaths, including many women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but its figures are widely cited by international organizations such as the United Nations.
