A Palestinian official announced that Hamas has agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire proposal for Gaza. However, both Israel and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff have dismissed this claim, stating that no such agreement has been finalized.
The proposed deal reportedly includes a 70-day ceasefire, the release of 10 Israeli hostages in two phases, a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas’ acceptance was conveyed through mediators.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff refuted the assertion, labelling Hamas’ response as “completely unacceptable.” He emphasized that the terms presented by Hamas differ from the actual proposal, which included a 45- to 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living and 19 deceased hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also rejected the proposal, asserting that it was not from Washington and that no responsible Israeli government could accept such terms.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with nearly 54,000 Palestinians reported dead since the escalation began. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, prompting international calls for a resolution.
Photo Credit: Reuters
