Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of the hostages held in Gaza that Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, reports news agency Reuters quoting an Israeli media report.
Earlier, the Palestinian militant group Hamas said that it had received new proposal from the mediators and was studying it.
The new proposal, brokered via international mediators, is aimed at establishing a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas while also addressing the critical issue of hostage releases and humanitarian aid access in Gaza. Mint quoting a report, said that the agreement includes the phased release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of the bodies of 18 deceased captives.
The ceasefire between Gaza and Israel is intended to last for 60 days, during which the humanitarian aid deliveries would resume under the supervision of the United Nations. Israel, in exchange, would release over 1,000 Palestinian detainees, including the convicted terrorists and prisoners held since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023.
Hamas Demands Changes To Witkoff’s New Gaza Ceasefire Proposal
According to the Jerusalem Post quoting sources, Hamas said that it does not accept the outline for US envoy Steve Witkoff’s ceasefire and hostage deal proposal at face value and has demanded certain changes. The report further added, quoting a source, that Hamas feels deceived by the US administration, believing that it has been “screwed over” with a pro-Israel proposal that does not guarantee an end to the war.
The proposal also requires all hostages to be returned to Israel within a week, leaving Hamas without further leverage.
