Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa (C), accompanied by Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty (2R), speaks at a press conference on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on August 18, 2025. KHALED DESOUKI / AFP
Hamas said on Monday, August 18, that it has accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, though Israel has indicated its positions haven't changed. Gaza's Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll from 22 months of war has passed 62,000.
US President Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on the long-running negotiations that Washington has mediated as well. "We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be," he posted on social media.
Israel announced plans to reoccupy Gaza City and other heavily populated areas after ceasefire talks appeared to break down last month, raising the possibility of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which experts say is sliding into famine .
Plans to expand the offensive, in part aimed at pressuring Hamas, have sparked international outrage and infuriated many Israelis who fear for the remaining hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that started the war. Hundreds of thousands took part in mass protests on Sunday, calling for their return.
