Israel has agreed to a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza but Hamas said while it was reviewing the plan its terms did not meet the group’s demands.
This development follows optimistic remarks from President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who suggested earlier this week that an agreement to halt the conflict and secure the release of more hostages was within reach.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Israel “backed and supported” the new proposal.
Hamas has acknowledged receipt of the proposal and stated they are “reviewing it responsibly to serve the interests of our people, provide them relief, and achieve a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”
Previously, Hamas indicated its agreement with Witkoff on a “general framework” for a lasting ceasefire, encompassing a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, increased aid, and a transfer of power to a politically independent Palestinian committee.
Here’s what’s known about the emerging negotiations that aim to bring about an extended truce in the war in exchange for hostages that remain in captivity:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to end the war until all the hostages are released and Hamas is either destroyed or disarmed and sent into exile. He has said Israel will control Gaza indefinitely and facilitate what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of much of its population.
Palestinians and most of the international community have rejected plans to resettle Gaza’s population, a move experts say would likely violate international law.
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages — its only bargaining chip — in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal. It has offered to give up power to a committee of politically independent Palestinians that could oversee reconstruction.
Hamas is still holding 58 hostages. Around a third are believed to be alive, though many fear they are in grave danger the longer the war goes on. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed since Israel renewed its airstrikes and ground operations after ending a ceasefire in March.
The dispute over whether there should be a temporary ceasefire to release more hostages — as Israel has called for — or a permanent one — as Hamas wants — has bedeviled talks brokered by the US, Egypt and Qatar for more than a year and a half, and there’s no indication it has been resolved.
Witkoff has not publicised his latest proposal, but a Hamas official and an Egyptian official independently confirmed some of the details. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks.
They say it calls for a 60-day pause in fighting, guarantees of serious negotiations leading to a long-term truce and assurances that Israel will not resume hostilities after the release of hostages, as it did in March. Israeli forces would pull back to the positions they held during the ceasefire Israel ended that month.
Hamas would release 10 living hostages and a number of bodies during the 60-day pause in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including 100 serving long sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks.
