Israel Misses Its Own Deadline to Respond to Ceasefire Deal Accepted by Hamas

Israel missed a self-imposed deadline to respond to a Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated ceasefire and captive-release framework that Hamas accepted more than a week earlier. Qatari officials reported that Israel has not contacted mediators despite saying it would respond by Friday, August 22. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said there has been no official Israeli acceptance, rejection, or alternative proposal and indicated Israel appears unwilling to reach an agreement. Reports say the framework would include a 60-day pause in attacks, increased humanitarian aid, Hamas releasing roughly half of the remaining 50 Israeli captives, and reciprocal releases of some Palestinian prisoners.

Israel said it would respond to the deal last week, but has yet to contact mediators, days past its own deadline. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks with reporters before a bipartisan meeting with senate leaders in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Israel missed its own deadline to respond to a temporary ceasefire and captive release deal that Hamas accepted over a week ago, with Israeli authorities appearing "unwilling" to accept the framework despite Hamas saying that the agreement contains significant concessions in Israel's favor.

We are in contact with all parties in pursuit of a ceasefire agreement, but there is no official Israeli response - neither acceptance, rejection, nor the presentation of an alternative proposal," al-Ansari said. "We do not take seriously the media statements in Israel and are awaiting an official response to the proposal.

Hamas announced over a week ago that it has agreed to the latest proposal. The details of the framework haven't been released to the public, but reports have said that it involves a 60-day pause in attacks and an increase in humanitarian aid. Hamas would release roughly half of the remaining 50 Israeli captives in this time, while Israel would release some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners it's holding in captivity.

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