Hamas has delivered what it described as a “positive response” to mediators regarding the latest United States-backed ceasefire proposal and hostage release deal, declaring it is “seriously ready” to enter negotiations immediately.

The Palestinian militant group said its response included amendments to the proposed framework, notably a demand for a U.S. guarantee that hostilities would not resume if talks on a permanent ceasefire collapsed. A senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks told the BBC that Hamas accepted the general framework but sought clarity on key points.

There was no immediate reply from Israel or the U.S., though both have previously rejected similar terms. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel had accepted the “necessary conditions” for a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to accept the deal, warning: “It will not get better – it will only get worse.”

The draft plan reportedly includes the release of 10 living hostages held by Hamas and the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. It also outlines the delivery of humanitarian aid with UN and Red Cross oversight. Hamas, however, has insisted that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by Israel and the U.S., should no longer be involved in distribution.

Another Hamas demand is a full Israeli military withdrawal to positions held before the previous ceasefire collapsed in March. The current proposal reportedly allows only partial phased pull-outs.

Despite Hamas’s positive tone, Israeli air raids continued across Gaza on Friday. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 138 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, including 15 displaced civilians sheltering in tents near Khan Younis.

“The ceasefire will come, and I have lost my brother? There should have been a ceasefire long ago,” said 13-year-old Mayar al-Farr, mourning her brother Mahmoud.

“We want them to end the bloodshed,” added Adlar Mouamar, whose nephew Ashraf was killed. “We want them to stop this war.”

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the specific strikes but stated that its forces were “operating to dismantle Hamas military capabilities”.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross confirmed that a staff member at its Rafah field hospital was wounded by stray gunfire. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that a former colleague had been killed while waiting for aid in Khan Younis, adding that at least 16 people died in the incident.

“The systemic and deliberate starvation of Palestinians for over 100 days is pushing people in Gaza to breaking point,” said MSF emergency coordinator Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa. “This carnage must stop now.”

The UN human rights office said it had recorded the killing of 509 people near GHF aid centres and 104 near convoys. Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said initial findings indicated Israeli forces had fired on civilians seeking aid. The GHF denied the allegations, accusing the UN of relying on “untrustworthy” figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.

In Tel Aviv, the families of hostages held in Gaza held a rally outside the U.S. embassy, pleading with President Trump to finalise the deal. A banner bearing the U.S. flag and the words “liberty for all” was displayed on the nearby beachfront.

“There has to be a final, detailed agreement between Israel and Hamas,” said Ruby Chen, father of Itay Chen, an Israeli-American soldier killed in the 7 October attack.

“Only a comprehensive deal can bring them all home,” added Keith Siegel, a former hostage released in February.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting Kibbutz Nir Oz, reiterated that no end to the war would come until all hostages were released and Hamas’s military structure dismantled.

“We will bring them all back,” Netanyahu said.

Israel’s military campaign began following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken. Since then, at least 57,268 Palestinians have been killed, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

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