The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday said that Israel accepted the ceasefire framework proposed by the US Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, according to Israeli media reports.
Israel Accepts Witkoff’s Proposal
Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu said that Israel is ready to move forward with Witkoff’s framework for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release deal.
Netanyahu’s remarks came as he spoke with the families of hostages who were killed but their bodies still held by Hamas, according to Israeli website Ynet News.
The White House expressed optimism that Witkoff’s new proposal could bridge the gaps between Hamas and Israel, leading to a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, Axios reported citing three sources involved in the negotiations.
New Framework
On Wednesday, Hamas said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with the US Special Envoy on a framework that “ensures a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the flow of humanitarian aid, and a professional committee assuming control of the Strip.”
According to Hamas’ statement, the framework involved the release of 10 Israeli hostages and a number of bodies, in exchange for releasing an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, in addition to guarantees from the mediators.
Witkoff’s proposed deal included a 60-day temporary ceasefire before starting negotiations for a comprehensive agreement to end the war.
Hamas Concerns
Later, Witkoff said he had submitted a “new term sheet” to the US President, Donald Trump, for approval. The key changes in the new draft addressed the guarantees Hamas requested to ensure that the temporary truce would lead to a permanent ceasefire, an Israeli official told Axios.
On its part, Hamas confirmed that it had received the new proposal from mediators and was studying it.
However, Axios reporter, Barak Ravid, said that Hamas is not happy with the new proposal as “it does not include a clear US guarantee that the temporary ceasefire will lead to a permanent ceasefire,” he quoted a source familiar with the matter.
