Israel has agreed to a new ceasefire plan put forward by Steve Witkoff, a U.S. special envoy. This marks a rare breakthrough in the ongoing conflict. An Israeli official confirmed the country’s acceptance of the proposal.
The plan includes the release of 10 living hostages. It also includes the return of 18 deceased hostages’ bodies. A 60-day pause in fighting is also part of the deal. However, the official gave no timeline or commitment to permanent peace talks. This remains a major sticking point, as Hamas continues to demand an end to the war.
Hamas: “Proposal Ignores Our People’s Suffering”
Hamas quickly responded, saying the proposal came from Israel and ignored key Palestinian demands. These include a full stop to both the war and ongoing famine. 
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas political figure, shared the group’s view in a Facebook post. He stated that the leadership is reviewing the offer with a deep sense of national duty. “Our people are enduring genocide,” he wrote.
Hamas Offers Its Own Three-Point Counter
A senior Hamas official shared that the group has issued a counterproposal. It includes three demands in response to the U.S. plan.
First, Hamas is open to releasing hostages and observing the 60-day truce. But they want U.S. guarantees that peace negotiations will continue. They also demand that fighting will not resume once the ceasefire ends.
Second, all humanitarian aid must be delivered through United Nations channels. Hamas insists that any relief efforts bypass Israeli control.
Third, Hamas wants the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to pull back. Specifically, they should return to the positions they held as of March 2, 2025, before Israel resumed military operations in Gaza.
These three points were confirmed by another source familiar with the talks.
Netanyahu Tells Hostage Families the Deal Is On
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum reported that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, told hostage families he has accepted Witkoff’s plan. The message was delivered earlier in the day.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, confirmed the U.S. had submitted a new proposal to Hamas. She added that Israel had agreed to the terms.
“We hope for a ceasefire in Gaza,” Leavitt said. “This will allow us to bring all hostages home. That’s been our top priority since the beginning.”
Frustration Grows Behind Closed Doors
A senior Hamas official shared more insight into the ongoing negotiations. According to him, Hamas passed its terms to Palestinian-American mediator Bishara Bahbah two days ago.
Bahbah had reportedly approved the framework. He then relayed it to Witkoff. But everything changed after Witkoff met with Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, in Washington.
“We were shocked,” said the Hamas official. “Bahbah told us more than once that everything was approved. Now, this looks like an Israeli draft.”
Hamas says they are ready to release all hostages in one day. But they want one thing in return: a firm guarantee that the war will not restart. That guarantee, they say, is missing from the current proposal.
“They want to continue the war,” the official added. “We want to stop this.”
Accusations of Prolonged Occupation
Naim criticized the new proposal further in his Facebook post. He said it reflects Israel’s intent to maintain its occupation of Palestinian territories.
According to him, this deal would continue the cycles of violence, killing, and famine.
Even so, Hamas appears willing to make a major gesture. They are now ready to release half of the 20 living hostages still held in Gaza. A Hamas official called this a “big risk.” The reason? They doubt Israel will actually honor its side of the deal.
Witkoff: The Only One Who Can Make a Difference?
Despite setbacks, Hamas officials still place hope in Steve Witkoff. One of them said, “He’s a strong man. The only one who can pressure Israel to act.”
But there’s lingering distrust. Hamas remembers broken promises. The group pointed to the Trump administration and what followed after the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander.
President Donald Trump had promised humanitarian aid and even a thank-you to Hamas. None of that materialized. Aid didn’t flow back into Gaza, and diplomatic gestures were never made.
“Hamas is still very interested in ending the war,” the official stressed. “We want the hostages returned and the violence to stop.”
Political Backlash in Israel
Not everyone in Israel supports the deal. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich fiercely opposed it. He called the idea “sheer madness” and said on social media he “will not allow such a thing to happen. Period.”
In contrast, opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Netanyahu to accept the offer “publicly and immediately.” Lapid promised to support the government, even if far-right factions withdraw in protest.
