Hamas Accepts Parts of US Ceasefire; Strikes Continue

Hamas has accepted parts of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point ceasefire proposal and said it is ready to begin talks to finalise outstanding issues, including a proposed swap of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. President Trump urged Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza to allow safe hostage releases, and Israel said it was preparing to implement the first phase of the plan. Despite the diplomatic opening, Israeli forces continued strikes and Gaza authorities reported recent casualties, underscoring the fragility of progress. Key sticking points remain: Hamas rejects foreign administration or the entry of foreign forces and has not agreed to pre-disarmament, meaning detailed negotiations are still required. International leaders including EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and India’s prime minister welcomed the development, even as reporting emphasised the war’s heavy toll — with tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and over a thousand Israeli victims cited by some outlets.