Hamas accepts ceasefire deal: report

Israeli officials said that they haven't received the written Hamas response, and thus cannot say whether it is acceptable

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: August 18, 2025 12:28pm

Hamas accepted a ceasefire deal on Monday in its war with Israel, according to a report.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators presented the updated proposal, which a diplomatic source told Axios was "98% similar" to the last U.S.-backed proposal. Israel had agreed to the proposal supported by the U.S., but Hamas had not.

Israeli officials said that they haven't received the written Hamas response, and thus cannot say whether it is acceptable.

Another source told the news outlet that the proposal accepted by Hamas is a partial deal for a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 10 live hostages, 18 deceased hostages, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani traveled to Egypt on Monday to meet with Hamas negotiators, after talks on Sunday didn't result in enough progress, according to an Axios source. Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Haya gave the Qatari prime minister the terrorist group's updated response to the new deal proposal during the meeting.

"The goal was to hold direct discussions with Hamas and the other Palestinian factions and to push the talks forward," the diplomatic source said.

The news followed President Trump posting on Truth Social on Monday that Hamas had to be destroyed for the hostages to be returned to Israel.

"We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be," Trump wrote.

"Remember, I was the one who negotiated and got hundreds of hostages freed and released into Israel (and America!). I was the one who ended 6 wars, in just 6 months. I was the one who OBLITERATED Iran’s Nuclear facilities. Play to WIN, or don’t play at all! Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT."

The deal also comes a day after more than 200,000 Israelis protested against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's push to launch a new offensive in Gaza, the biggest such demonstration since the beginning of the war.