Hamas has agreed to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, while an Israeli official has rejected the deal and claimed that it was not Washington’s, according to Reuters.
The Israeli official also stated that no Israeli government could accept such a proposal.
Meanwhile, Witkoff also rejected the idea that Hamas had accepted his offer for a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza. He even told Reuters that what he had seen was “completely unacceptable,” stating that the proposal being discussed was not similar to his own.
Ceasefire Deal
On his part, the Palestinian official also told Reuters that the proposal seeks to ensure the release of 10 hostages and a 70-day ceasefire, emphasizing that the Palestinian group has received it through mediators.
“The proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in two groups in return for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” the source said.
The deal also involves the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, notably hundreds serving lengthy prison terms.
Israel’s Rejection
However, an Israeli official dismissed the deal, expressing that no Israeli government could approve such an agreement. He further rejected the confirmation that the deal aligned with Witkoff’s proposal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently said that Israel would only agree to a temporary ceasefire in exchange of the release of hostages. Netanyahu also vowed that eradicating Hamas would mark the immediate end of the war.
Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 53,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 118,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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