Hamas responds to Trump's Israel peace plan for 60-day Gaza ceasefire

Hamas has responded to Donald Trump's 60-day ceasefire proposal with Israel by demanding the state's government take steps towards ending the war altogether as Benjamin Netanyahu calls for the group's complete elimination.

Officials representing the group said they were ready for a ceasefire, but demanded any agreement must result in the end of the war in Gaza following the collapse of a previous agreement made with the help of the Trump administration last year. The terrorist group that orchestrated the October 7 massacre added it aimed to establish an agreement that would result in the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territory.

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The group said it is reviewing a ceasefire proposal from mediators, with Hamas official Taher al-Nunu saying the group is “ready and serious” about coming to an agreement that includes "any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war".

The short statement didn't amount to a full acceptance of the agreement, with significant negotiations now forthcoming, as the group indicates it plans to carry out national consultations and discuss the proposal with other Palestinian factions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who broke the previous ceasefire as Hamas-Israel talks were meant to negotiate the end of the war, appeared unwilling to allow any trace of Hamas to remain, however.

He took to social media to announce Israel had agreed to a "final proposal" for a ceasefire lasting about two months, but added during a meeting hosted by the Trans-Israel pipeline that "it's over" for Hamas.

The prime minister added: "There will not be a Hamas. here will not be a Hamastan. We're not going back to that. It's over." His comments come in stark comparison to an earlier social media post from Mr Trump, who said on his Truth Social platform that Israel had agreed to cease hostilities for two months, and that the US would "work with all parties to end the war".

He said: "My representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalise the 60-day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the war."

The pause in fighting would come as Palestinians struggle to receive aid, with Israel accused of firing upon unarmed civilians as they try to collect vital supplies from aid centres. Some 500 Palestinians have been killed as they sought aid, according to Hamas-led medical authorities in the region.

Israel's military has acknowledged that Palestinian civilians have been harmed and that soldiers had been given new instructions with lessons having been "learned."