Hamas states that the U.S. ceasefire proposal amounts to a "continuation of the killing" in Gaza
According to the U.S., Israel has accepted the deal, while Hamas has stated that it does not fulfill its demands but remains under negotiation.
A ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas, presented by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, is still under consideration by Hamas. However, a representative of the Palestinian group has warned that in its current form, the deal would only lead to “continued killing and starvation” in Gaza.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday that Israel had approved the ceasefire plan. The Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has submitted the proposal to Hamas for review. Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Reuters the proposal fails to meet any of the group's core demands, most notably an end to the war.
“Despite this, the leadership is carefully reviewing the proposal with a sense of national responsibility,” Naim said. According to a Hamas source speaking to Reuters, a formal response is expected by Friday or Saturday.
Although full details of the plan have not been disclosed, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that it lacks guarantees for ending the Israeli offensive, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, or ensuring unrestricted humanitarian aid to the region. A draft seen by Reuters reportedly outlines a 60-day initial ceasefire, during which Hamas would release 28 Israeli hostages both alive and deceased in exchange for 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 Palestinians.
The plan, reportedly backed by President Trump and mediated by Egypt and Qatar, also includes the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid once Hamas signs the agreement.
While Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed approval of the deal, reports in Israeli media suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the families of hostages that he is willing to proceed with Witkoff’s temporary ceasefire plan. Israeli analyst Akiva Eldar told Al Jazeera it is “unusual” for Israel to be the first to agree to a proposal. He suggested Netanyahu may anticipate Hamas rejecting the deal, allowing him to portray them as unwilling and justify continuing the war.
“This has happened before Netanyahu blamed them,” Eldar said.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire have repeatedly stalled over major disagreements: Israel insists on Hamas’s complete disarmament, while Hamas demands a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
This latest proposal comes amid contradictory reports. Earlier this week, Hamas claimed to have agreed on a general ceasefire framework with Witkoff, awaiting only a final response. The group stated the framework included a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and unimpeded humanitarian aid.
According to Hamas, the agreement also called for the formation of a professional body to manage Gaza’s post-ceasefire governance. Additionally, Trump was expected to guarantee the ceasefire’s implementation within 60 days and oversee the Israeli troop withdrawal.
However, Witkoff later denied that such terms were part of any agreement, telling Reuters that what Hamas described was “completely unacceptable.” A U.S. official close to Witkoff also refuted Hamas’s account, calling it “inaccurate” and “disappointing.” Israeli officials echoed this sentiment, with one anonymous source labeling Hamas’s statement as “psychological warfare” and “propaganda,” according to The Times of Israel.
Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, breaking a six-week ceasefire. Netanyahu announced that combat operations had resumed “with full force.” Since then, Israeli forces have carried out widespread assaults, reportedly killing nearly 4,000 people and pushing the overall death toll in Gaza to over 54,000, according to local health authorities.
Israel has also enforced a prolonged and deadly blockade on aid entering Gaza, which UN officials say has brought the population to the edge of famine. While Israel partially eased the blockade on May 19, allowing limited aid to enter, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the relief as just a “teaspoon” of what is needed.
This week, chaotic scenes unfolded as desperate Palestinians scrambled to access essential supplies distributed by the newly formed and controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by both the U.S. and Israel and claims it will deliver aid to the besieged territory.
Watch This Important Video
