Hamas accepted a 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposed by Qatar and Egypt, but with Israel’s history of violating previous ceasefires, many analysts remain sceptical about the prospects for lasting peace.

On 18 August, Hamas agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal put forward by Qatari and Egyptian mediators to bring an end to Israel’s brutal genocide in Gaza, which has now killed more than 62,000 Palestinians.

According to a source familiar with the talks, the deal includes a temporary halt to military operations, the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and half of the 50 Israeli captives to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

With Israel yet to officially respond to the agreement, Israeli public broadcaster Kan cited the prime minister’s office as saying on Tuesday that Israel is reportedly demanding the release of all 50 captives held in Gaza.

Given its history of violating previous ceasefires, many analysts remain deeply sceptical about the prospects for lasting peace.

The proposed truce comes amid mounting domestic pressure within Israel, as families of the captives organised mass protests, including blocking streets in Tel Aviv, demanding an end to the war and their safe return. 

Despite these calls for peace, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on a complete Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas, conditions that Hamas has categorically rejected.

A pattern of short-lived ceasefires

Violations have marred Israel’s track record with ceasefires in Gaza and collapses. 

In 2025 alone, Israel has committed more than 900 violations of the previous ceasefire agreement since it came into effect on 19 January, killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians in various governorates across the Palestinian enclave, according to the government media office in Gaza. 

Mehran Kamrava, a professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Doha News that Israel’s commitment to a meaningful and lasting ceasefire agreement has been absent. 

“Experience has shown that Israel’s overall commitment to a meaningful and lasting ceasefire agreement has been absent,” Kamrava said. “Therefore, it would be a pleasant surprise if this ceasefire agreement proves durable.”

Hamas has accepted multiple truce proposals for nearly two years, only to see Israel repeatedly reject these overtures, continuing instead with its genocidal war on Gaza.

Since 7 October 2023, Israeli occupation forces have killed at least 62,004 Palestinians, the overwhelming majority of whom have been women and children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. 

Thousands more are believed to remain buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings, with rescue operations severely hampered by ongoing hostilities and restricted access for emergency crews.

Domestic pressures influencing Israeli decision-making

Internally, Israel faces mounting pressure from various sectors to reconsider its military strategy. 

Families of Israeli captives organised mass protests with thousands taking part in a nationwide strike on Sunday, calling on Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas to end the war and release the remaining captives.

Demonstrators blocked key highways in Tel Aviv, as they called for an immediate ceasefire, accusing the government of placing political interests over the lives of the Israeli captives.

While far-right coalition partners continue to push for an all-out escalation in Gaza, the families of captives insist that securing their release must take priority. The pressure has created a serious dilemma for Netanyahu, whose government appears paralysed between two contradictory objectives: escalating the war, and securing a deal to return captives home.

“The Israeli government finds itself in a very tough spot in light of the mounting pressures from inside Israel to accept a ceasefire and pave the way for revitalising negotiations that would eventually lead to releasing the hostages,” explained Dr Mohammed el-Nawawy, a professor of Media Studies Programme, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

“In the meantime, it is not in Netanyahu’s interest to end this war, as he has been trying to use it to distract attention from his prosecution on corruption charges,” Dr el-Nawawy told Doha News.

Professor Kamrava also argued that public opinion could become a decisive factor.

“Up until this point, Netanyahu has calculated that for his political position, it is more important to continue with the genocide than to bring about the release of the [captives],” he told Doha News.

“But then over the past few days, we have seen mass protests against Netanyahu’s lack of concern for them, and his insistence on continuing the war. So now that the public opinion tide is turning, we might see a different political calculation from him and greater receptivity to a ceasefire arrangement,” he added. 

Ceasefire or reprieve?

Analysts have cautioned that the proposed 60-day ceasefire, while welcomed by Hamas, may be far from a genuine step towards lasting peace.

Israel’s longstanding history of breaching previous truces, coupled with Netanyahu’s determination to disarm Hamas and assert complete security control over the Gaza Strip, has fuelled widespread scepticism.

At this moment, nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip is under “evacuation orders” or designated as no-go zones. 

“Given the turn of Israeli politics over the last several years, and the absence of a serious desire on the part of major international powers like the US and the EU to see a viable Palestinian state, if the ceasefire succeeds, it is only a temporary reprieve in the tormented history of Palestine and the tragic reality of Palestine today,” said Professor Kamrava.

Meanwhile, Professor el-Naway stressed that, “Unless the Israeli government is forced to end this war through continuing pressures from domestic parties and more importantly from the U.S. administration, this temporary pause would fail as the ones that preceded it.”

Humanitarian relief and aid access under the proposed truce

If implemented, the proposed 60-day ceasefire envisions the opening of humanitarian corridors for large-scale relief operations.

For the two million Palestinians in Gaza, the proposed ceasefire is not merely a political negotiation but a question of survival. 

Nearly two years of relentless bombardment have devastated civilian infrastructure, leaving hospitals destroyed and the remaining overwhelmed, food supplies exhausted, and fuel stocks depleted. 

UN agencies warn that without an immediate and sustained influx of humanitarian assistance, the humanitarian catastrophe will only deepen, regardless of a temporary halt to Israel’s genocide and siege. 

Professor el-Nawawy stressed that the release of humanitarian aid would be a decisive factor in whether this truce offers any meaningful respite.

“The immediate release of humanitarian aid into Gaza is a critical factor, given the worsening conditions of two million Gazans who have been subject to complete starvation over the past few months,” he told Doha News.

He added that whether medical supplies, food, and fuel reach Gaza “will depend on the Israeli government’s approach to this proposed truce, and whether it is truly determined to make this work.”

Professor Kamrava, however, cautioned that deliberate obstacles imposed by Israel has historically undermined aid access.

“At this point, any amount of aid would help, but at the same time, no amount of it is also enough to end the suffering of the Palestinians,” he explained. 

“In the past, Israeli authorities have created numerous obstacles on the ground in terms of preventing the distribution of food, medicine, and necessary aid materials,” he added.

“Israeli civilians, with the tacit approval of the military, have also attacked aid trucks and have destroyed their loads.”