Hamas says it is reviewing what US President Donald Trump described as a “final” ceasefire proposal for Gaza, but insists any agreement must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from the enclave.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Palestinian group said it was “studying” the new proposals from mediators Egypt and Qatar. However, it maintained that any deal must “ensure an end to the war and an Israeli pullout from Gaza.”

The announcement follows President Trump’s claim on Tuesday that Israel had agreed to the necessary conditions for a 60-day ceasefire following a “long and productive” meeting between US representatives and Israeli officials.

But in his first public comments since Trump’s statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his government’s hardline stance, declaring the destruction of Hamas as non-negotiable.

“There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a Hamastan. We’re not going back to that. It’s over,” Netanyahu said during an event hosted by the Trans-Israel pipeline.

Despite the entrenched positions, Trump’s announcement has sparked cautious optimism among some Palestinians in Gaza. Kamal, a Gaza City resident, told reporters by phone, “I hope it would work this time, even if for two months, it would save thousands of innocent lives.”

Others remained sceptical. Adnan Al-Assar, speaking from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, said, “We hope he is serious like he was serious during the Israeli-Iranian war when he said the war should stop, and it stopped.”

The nearly two-year-long war has taken a devastating toll on Gaza and led to mounting domestic pressure on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire—an idea fiercely opposed by the hardliners in his right-wing coalition.

Meanwhile, a recently brokered truce between Israel and Iran following last month’s 12-day flare-up, coupled with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, has left Hamas—backed by Tehran—under increased pressure.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar suggested a majority in the coalition would back a deal that secured the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

“If there is an opportunity to do so – we must not miss it!” Saar wrote on X. Of the 50 hostages believed to be in Gaza, around 20 are thought to be alive.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also offered political cover for any agreement, saying his party could provide a parliamentary “safety net” if Netanyahu’s cabinet faces internal dissent.

Lapid’s pledge not to back a no-confidence vote could help preserve Netanyahu’s coalition in the event of a backlash from far-right members opposed to a ceasefire.

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