Everything we know about the Trump-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal

Qatar has put forward a revised 60-day ceasefire proposal to Hamas and Israel, with the backing of the Trump administration, aiming to stop Israel's attacks on Gaza and pave the way for broader negotiations to end the war.

The proposal, finalised after months of behind-the-scenes talks led by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, was delivered on Tuesday, the same day Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer arrived in Washington for high-level meetings with Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance.

According to multiple sources familiar with the talks, the draft agreement includes a 60-day truce, during which eight living Israeli hostages would be released on the first day, followed by two more on day 50. The bodies of 18 Israeli captives would also be returned in three batches.

In return, Israel would withdraw from the Morag corridor in southern Gaza and increase humanitarian aid deliveries into the enclave. Palestinian prisoners would also be released, though the exact number has not been disclosed.

The proposed truce is intended as a gateway to negotiating a permanent end to the war and establishing a roadmap for governing post-war Gaza.

Witkoff, who has been in contact with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, has made clear that Trump intends to press hard for a deal in the coming days.

Trump told Axios on Tuesday that he plans to speak directly to Netanyahu and be "very firm" about ending the war and bringing the captives home. "The situation won’t get better, it will get worse," Trump said, expressing confidence that a deal could be reached next week.

A post-war plan for Gaza, reportedly supported by Trump, would remove Hamas from power and ensure its military wing is dismantled, with remaining commanders sent into exile.

"We won't need a big ship to send them, a small boat will do," one Israeli official told Axios.

Israel is pushing for Gaza to be governed by local Palestinian leaders unaffiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, under the oversight of Arab states including Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

Though Israeli officials have indicated a willingness to engage in indirect talks and adjust some of the deal's language to make it more acceptable to Hamas, they insist on retaining military flexibility and have refused to guarantee that the ceasefire would lead to a permanent end to the war.

"Hamas wants certainty that the war will end, they won’t get that," said a senior Israeli source. "But we’re willing to be flexible up to the point of giving this certainty."

How has Hamas responded so far?

Sources close to Hamas indicate that the group is still reviewing the revised proposal.

According to Ynet, high-level consultations are ongoing within Hamas, with cautious optimism that the group may accept the deal if the text includes a clear commitment to ending the war, not just pausing it.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s government has continued military operations in Gaza and called on civilians in parts of Gaza City to evacuate, signalling preparations for a broader ground offensive.

A senior Israeli official warned: "We'll do to Gaza City and the central camps what we did to Rafah. Everything will turn to dust. It’s not our preferred option, but if there’s no movement toward a hostage deal, we won’t have any other choice."

Israeli sources say Dermer's Washington visit is intended to lay the groundwork for a White House meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, scheduled for next Monday.

If a temporary ceasefire is agreed, officials say the US "day after" plan could form the basis of indirect negotiations over a long-term resolution.

Israel's brutal offensive on besieged Gaza has killed at least 57,010 people, mostly women and children, and wounded over 134,592. It has also devastated the enclave, destroying much of its infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings.