Hamas ‘Ready For Agreement’ On Ending War After Massive Attacks (Worthy News Focus)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News with additional reporting by Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau staff

GAZA CITY/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Faced with relentless Israeli strikes and with many of its fighters dead or injured, Hamas indicated Wednesday it was “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement” with Israel.

The announcement came while a delegation from Hamas was due to meet with mediators in Cairo, Egypt, while the Israeli military investigated its alleged involvement in strikes that killed dozens in the Gaza Strip, Worthy News learned.

Ahead of Wednesday’s talks in Cairo, Hamas official Taher al-Nunu suggested that a new hostage deal with Israel would see a complete end to the war group.

He claimed that Hamas, designated as a terrorist group by Israel and most of its allies, was now “ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.”

Negotiations continued based on an altered version of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s framework that would see the remaining 50 hostages, less than half of whom are still alive, released after being held for over 600 days in captivity, Israeli sources said.

Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau staff reported overnight that U.S. President Donald J. Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform that “Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.”

In the post, Trump confirmed that his “representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza.”

‘BRING PEACE’

He added, “The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal.” Trump stressed: “I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.”

While Trump’s comments have reignited hopes of returning the remaining hostages, Israel has repeatedly refused agreements that would have seen the conflict end in the Gaza Strip with Hamas still in control.

“Hamas officials have repeatedly bragged to Arab media that they would repeat the October 7 attack, an invasion in 2023 which saw terrorists rampage through southern Israel and murder over 1,200 people,” warned The Jerusalem Post newspaper on its website.

However, Trump said he still expects a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas to be finalized by next week, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares for a potentially Middle East-changing visit to Washington.

President Trump has told reporters he would be “very firm” with the Israeli leader when they meet Monday, July 7, at the White House, citing the urgent need to end the months-long war in Gaza.

His comments come amid an ongoing investigation by the Israeli army of dozens of Palestinians who were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes at a cafe and what Hamas-linked sources said were a school and food distribution sites in Gaza.

There was confusion over the final death toll of those reported strikes, with broadcaster Al Jazeera reporting the “killing of at least 95 Palestinians” and attacks at a hospital that allegedly wounded several more people.

SCORES KILLED

At least 62 of the victims of Monday’s attacks were killed in Gaza City and the north of the territory, Hamas-controlled authorities said.

“The figure includes 39 people who were killed in an Israeli strike on a seaside cafe, Al-Baqa cafeteria, in northern Gaza City,” Al Jazeera explained, adding that dozens more were wounded.

Israeli sources spoke of lower numbers, citing Hamas-linked authorities, who mentioned 24 people killed at the cafe in Gaza City the day before.

Separately, another shooting incident was reported near an aid distribution site in southern Gaza. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dismantled a tunnel network stretching three kilometers (1.86 miles) that was used “by terror operatives “ in the area of Khan Younis.

While the IDF says it is investigating reports of possible wrongdoing by some forces, it previously stressed that fighting in an urban situation remains complicated, with Hamas fighters using civilians as “human shields.”

The Hamas-linked Health Ministry says some 57,000 Palestinians have died in the Gaza war without differentiating between civilians and fighters.

The war began after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, including babies and pregnant women, in the biggest attack against Jews since the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah.

About 251 people were kidnapped. While most have returned, dead or alive, there is growing pressure on Hamas and Netanyahu to agree on a deal that would allow the 50 remaining hostages to return home, half of them in body bags.

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