A senior Hamas official has said the group will reject the latest ceasefire proposal from the United States, despite Israel’s approval of the plan. The proposal, crafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff, aims to secure a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, but Hamas insists it does not meet their key demands.
The White House confirmed on Thursday that Israel had “signed off” on the ceasefire deal, and was waiting for Hamas to give a formal response. Israeli media reported that the plan involves Hamas handing over 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in exchange for a pause in fighting and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
However, the Hamas official told the BBC the proposal fails to address crucial issues, especially an immediate end to the war. Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire and full lifting of the Israeli blockade on Gaza. The official said the group would respond with a written statement soon but dismissed the current offer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly told families of the hostages that he supports the US proposal. Despite this, Netanyahu said Israel will not end the war until all hostages are freed and Hamas is either defeated or disarmed. His office later accused an Israeli reporter of attempting to secretly record the meeting with hostage families but did not deny Netanyahu’s acceptance of the plan.
The conflict in Gaza has intensified since Israel resumed a major military offensive on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt. Israel imposed a total blockade, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing 58 hostages, with at least 20 believed to be alive.
On May 19, the Israeli military expanded its attacks, with Netanyahu stating that Israeli troops would take control of all parts of Gaza. The following day, Israel announced a partial easing of the blockade to allow limited food supplies into the territory to prevent famine.
The war has caused devastating human losses. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports nearly 4,000 deaths in the last 10 weeks. The United Nations says over 600,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting and evacuation orders. A UN-backed report warns that about half a million people in Gaza could face severe hunger in the coming months.
At a Washington press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the US had presented the ceasefire plan to Hamas after securing Israel’s agreement. She expressed hope that a ceasefire would soon bring all hostages home. But she acknowledged that talks were still ongoing.
Earlier in the conflict, Hamas launched a surprise cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages. Israel has since recovered 197 hostages, mostly through previous temporary ceasefires.
Meanwhile, violence continues to surge. On Thursday, at least 54 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes, including 23 people when a home was destroyed in central Gaza’s Bureij area, according to the Hamas Civil Defence agency. The Israeli military said it targeted dozens of “terror sites” in the latest round of attacks.
As the deadly conflict drags on, the failure to agree on a ceasefire deal leaves thousands of civilians trapped amid rising casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions.
