A ceasefire proposal with Israel tabled by the administration of United States President Donald Trump is “still under discussion” by Hamas, but in its current form will only result in “the continuation of killing and famine” in Gaza, an official from the Palestinian group has said, Al Jazeera News reported on Friday.
The proposal, presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff and backed by Israel, would reportedly involve Hamas releasing 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. However, Hamas has raised concerns that the offer does not include guarantees for a lasting truce or the reinstatement of humanitarian access on the scale previously seen.
A senior Hamas official has said the group will reject the latest US ceasefire and hostage-release proposal, saying it fails to meet key demands, including a permanent end to the war in Gaza.
The White House confirmed on Thursday that Israel had accepted the plan, with President Joe Biden’s administration expressing hope that an agreement could be reached to halt hostilities and facilitate the return of remaining hostages. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said talks were ongoing and that the United States was awaiting a formal response from Hamas.
Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told families of hostages that Israel had agreed to the Witkoff proposal. The Israeli government has not issued a formal public statement, but Netanyahu’s office did not deny his remarks when questioned by local reporters.
As part of the ongoing campaign, the Israeli military expanded operations on 19 May, with Netanyahu pledging full territorial control of Gaza. The next day, he announced la imited easing of the blockade to allow essential food supplies in a bid to avert famine. A UN-backed food security assessment has warned that some 500,000 people in Gaza face catastrophic hunger levels, while over 600,000 have been newly displaced by ground operations and evacuation orders.
Despite rejecting the latest US proposal, Hamas says it remains in contact with mediators and will issue a formal response. The group has consistently stated that any hostage release must be tied to a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire—conditions Israel has so far rejected.
