Hamas says that he accepts Steve Witkoff’s proposal on Gaza Ceasefire Deal – Defense News

Hamas Accepted a cease-fire proposal from Gaza that she attributed to the Steve Witkoff special envoy for a cease-fire in Gaza, a Palestinian official close to the group said on Monday.

The new proposal, which sees the release of 10 hostages and 70 days of truce, would have been received by Hamas through mediators.

“The proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in two groups in exchange for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” said the source.

The proposal also sees the release of Palestinian prisoners By Israel, including hundreds of those who are serving long prison terms. The framework agreed by Hamas seemed distinct from Witkoff’s proposal that Israel had previously approved.

Complaints from Hamas rejected by Witkoff, says no offer agreed by the group

Witkoff responded to complaints on Monday, rejecting the idea that Hamas had accepted the offer for a hostage agreement and a cease-fire in Gaza.

“What I have heard so far from Hamas has been disappointing and completely unacceptable,” he told Walla. He said that Israel had accepted his offer for an agreement which includes the release of half of the living hostages and half of the dead.

“I agreed to direct these negotiations,” said Witkoff, “there is an agreement on the table, and Hamas must accept it”, adding that the ceasefire “will lead significant negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire”.

No responsible government could accept Hamas’ cease-fire proposal, said an anonymous Israeli official, rejecting the assertion that the agreement corresponded to that proposed by Witkoff, adding that Hamas is not interested in an agreement.

Israel rejected the agreement designed in Hamas earlier on Monday

Earlier on Monday, Israel said it had rejected a Proposal made by Hamas For the immediate release of five hostages, which was formulated by Hamas and transferred by direct backchannel communications with the United States, which then presented the plan to Jerusalem.

“(The proposal is) very far from the plan on which we are ready to negotiate,” said an Israeli official The Jerusalem post.

In particular, the United States has not said whether he supported the proposal or not.

The proposal included the release of five living hostages in exchange for the following elements: tidicidary withdrawing in its positions in Gaza two months ago, allowing humanitarian aid In all areas of Gaza, continuous discussions for the release of living and dead hostages, and what has been described as “a kind of American recognition of Hamas”.

The United States has asked Israel in recent days to delay its large-scale size military operation In Gaza, as part of the efforts to exhaust negotiations for a hostage agreement, two sources familiar with the affair told the post Sunday.

Netanyahu is prepared for a temporary ceasefire to bring the hostages back

Netanyahu is prepared for a temporary ceasefire to bring the hostages back. Despite the ongoing military activity and, following Israeli statements, the United States asked Israel to authorize current negotiations to a potential hostage agreement to continue.

“If there is an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire to bring hostages back, we are ready for this,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Wednesday.

Israel decided to recall its Qatar delegation last Thursday after Hamas insisted on American guarantees to end the war as part of any agreement.

Israeli officials argue that the only agreement currently on the table is the “Witkoff Framework”, which includes the publication of 10 hostages and a 60-day ceasefire. An Israeli source told the post a few days ago: “It’s a dead end.”

Although the Israeli delegation has left Qatar, the US administration pursues indirect talks with Hamas via Dr. Bashara Bahbah, which previously directed the “American Arabs for Trump” campaign.

European leaders are expressed on Gaza, aid distribution

The new proposals arise because an increasing number of European officials have expressed their concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Said Monday The fact that the recent attacks of Israel against Gaza make a humanitarian assessment against civilians who can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism.

Hamas has a full responsibility to provoke war in Gaza, to use its people as human shields and to place military infrastructure under civil sites, but it is time for Israel to make a truce, Italian assistant and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, in an interview with the Rai 3 broadcaster.

“The Hamas trap has led to Israel in a war that the civilian population pays … Hamas has a huge responsibility towards its own people, which it uses as a human shield,” he added, the appellant “criminal to build military bases in hospitals”.

“Israel won the war against Hamas”, ” Tajani saidAdding: “Naming the civilian population to such a measure, as has been increasingly the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism”. Earlier this month, several EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, also called for an immediate cederfire.

Walla contributed to this report.