- US envoy Steve Witkoff (appointed by former President Trump) condemned Hamas’s response to the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan as “totally unacceptable,” stating it sets talks backward.
- Hamas’s response neither explicitly accepted nor outright rejected the plan but outlined conditions including a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and continuous humanitarian aid.
- Hamas offered to release 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners but did not fully agree to the ceasefire framework.
- Israel, having approved the US proposal, has yet to respond officially to Hamas’s statement but reiterated commitment to defeating Hamas and securing all hostages.
- The proposal reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire, staged hostage releases, release of Palestinian prisoners, and humanitarian aid delivery.
- The conflict has caused over 54,000 deaths in Gaza and many injuries since Israel launched its military campaign in response to Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023.
- Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of rejecting the proposal and emphasized the continuation of military efforts until hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated.
- The humanitarian situation remains dire in Gaza amid an Israeli blockade, with widespread hunger and health crises worsening.
