Gaza: Hamas announced on Saturday that it has formally responded to a ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. The group stated that its reply was conveyed to mediators and emphasized a core demand: a complete end to the ongoing war in Gaza — a condition that Israel has consistently opposed.
In a statement, the Palestinian militant group said the proposal includes the release of ten Israeli hostages who are still alive, along with the return of 18 bodies. In exchange, Israel would release an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. The proposed deal aligns with the framework put forward by Witkoff, Reuters reported.
“This initiative seeks to establish a lasting ceasefire, ensure a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and guarantee the delivery of humanitarian aid to our people,” the Hamas statement read, noting that its response followed internal consultations across Palestinian factions.
While the statement didn’t indicate that Hamas demanded revisions to the original offer, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that the group did propose certain changes, although their overall reaction remained constructive.
Israel yet to respond
Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has not issued a comment regarding Hamas’ response. However, Israeli news outlets reported earlier in the week that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had informed families of hostages that Israel had accepted the terms of the U.S.-backed deal. The Prime Minister’s Office did not confirm or deny the report at the time.
Long-standing disagreements between Hamas and Israel have derailed multiple ceasefire efforts since the collapse of the last truce in March. Israel continues to demand that Hamas fully disarm, relinquish its military and administrative control in Gaza, and release all remaining hostages — now estimated to be 58 — before any formal end to hostilities can be considered.
War’s toll on Gaza
Hamas, on the other hand, has rejected calls to disarm and insists that Israel must end its military operations and withdraw from Gaza entirely. The war began after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas fighters in southern Israel, which left around 1,200 people dead and 251 others abducted, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel launched a wide-scale military offensive in Gaza, which Palestinian health officials say has claimed over 54,000 lives and devastated much of the enclave.
