Israel Backs New U.S. Ceasefire Proposal; Hamas Responds with Conditions
Israel has agreed to a new U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal aimed at halting its war with Hamas, an Israeli official confirmed Thursday. The plan, spearheaded by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, includes a 60-day truce and the release of hostages — 10 alive and 18 deceased.
While Israel has signed on, Hamas remains skeptical. The militant group said the framework appears to be an Israeli draft that fails to meet their core demands — primarily a permanent end to the war and relief from what they describe as ongoing genocide and famine.
“The latest proposal does not respond to any of our people’s demands,” said Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official. “Still, we’re reviewing it responsibly given the suffering of our people.”
Hamas Outlines Key Conditions
A senior Hamas official told CNN the group is willing to go along with the 60-day ceasefire and hostage release — but only under three conditions:
- Guarantees for a Permanent Ceasefire: Hamas wants firm U.S. assurances that negotiations will continue and hostilities will not resume once the 60-day truce ends.
- UN-Led Aid Distribution: Humanitarian assistance must be delivered through United Nations channels, not solely via Israeli coordination.
- Israeli Troop Withdrawal: Hamas demands the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) return to their positions held as of March 2, prior to Israel’s latest military offensive.
These terms were reportedly delivered to Witkoff through Palestinian-American mediator Bishara Bahbah. However, Hamas claims the situation shifted dramatically after Witkoff’s meeting with Israeli official Ron Dermer in Washington earlier this week.
“Everything changed 100%,” the Hamas official said. “We thought we had a deal. Then we saw this was just an Israeli proposal in disguise.”
Trust Issues and Missed Opportunities
Despite internal frustration, the Hamas official said the group is ready to release half of the remaining 20 living hostages — a move they described as a “big risk” without ironclad guarantees Israel won’t reignite the conflict.
“We want to stop this,” the official emphasized. “We are ready to return all the hostages in one day — just give us a real guarantee that the war won’t resume.”
The same source expressed concern that previous agreements had been broken. Following the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander during the Trump administration, promised humanitarian aid and public thanks never materialized.
“Hamas is very, very interested in reaching a deal — to end the war and return the hostages,” the official said.
Mixed Signals from Israeli Leadership
Back in Israel, reactions to the ceasefire plan have been divided.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told hostage families that he had accepted the U.S. proposal. However, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich slammed the move as “sheer madness,” vowing to block it.
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“I will not allow such a thing to happen. Period,” Smotrich posted on social media.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, on the other hand, called on Netanyahu to embrace the deal “publicly and immediately.” He pledged to support the government even if members of its far-right bloc defect over the decision.
The U.S. Push for a Breakthrough
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday that the ceasefire plan had been submitted to Hamas with Israel’s backing.
“We hope a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can bring all hostages home,” Leavitt said. “That’s been a priority for this administration since the beginning.”
Despite the setbacks, a path to peace — or at least a pause — appears to be on the table. Now the focus shifts to Hamas’s response, which could determine whether this war inches closer to resolution or continues to grind on with no end in sight.
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