Hamas, Israel nearing an agreement on ceasefire to end: Gaza residents await

Both parties have reportedly made progress toward a ceasefire despite some remaining obstacles. Israel, Palestine, and US officials expressed cautious optimism about a potential breakthrough in the coming days

Gaza: Over 2.2 million people in Gaza are closely following the “positive” news from Qatar, which suggests that both Hamas and Israel are nearing an agreement on a ceasefire to end the 15-month conflict in Gaza.

“I will move from one place to another while raising my hands to the sky to scream to let my son hear me,” Baker Soboh, who lost his son during the Israeli attacks, described what he would do once a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is announced.

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“My son, family, and community have waited so long for such an emotional moment,” said Soboh, a 51-year-old father of seven. “But day by day, we lose more and more of our loved ones.”

Since Monday, both parties have reportedly made progress toward a ceasefire despite some remaining obstacles. Israel, Palestine, and US officials expressed cautious optimism about a potential breakthrough in the coming days.

A senior Hamas official in Doha confirmed the group had responded positively to the ceasefire proposal provided by mediators in Qatar, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Hamas has raised no objections to the proposal, hoping a ceasefire can soon be reached to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza,” the official said.

“For us, waiting for this news feels like waiting for our Eid festival,” Soboh remarked. “Even though we have lost everything — our loved ones, homes, work — at least we will have time to mourn our losses.”