Hamas responds to ceasefire proposal, reiterates demands

 

Hamas responds to ceasefire proposal, reiterates demands

The latest proposal was submitted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff




Hamas said it has submitted a response to the latest ceasefire proposal by U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to mediators on Saturday, reiterating its key demands.

Hamas' key demands are "to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the continuous flow of humanitarian aid," according to the group.

The group's demands remain the same as in previous ceasefire negotiations.

Hamas said its hostage exchange proposal would involve the release of 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.


Palestinians inspect the rubble following Israeli strikes on the al-Qattaa family home in al-Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City on May 31, 2025.
Omar Al-qattaa/AFP via Getty Images
Israeli forces have killed at least 60 Palestinians and injured another 284 across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health said Saturday.

At least 54,381 people in Gaza have been killed and 124,054 have been wounded, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, since the war began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. At least 20 hostages remain in Hamas captivity.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that he received Hamas's response to the U.S. proposal, describing it as "completely unacceptable." Witkoff insisted that Hamas agree to the U.S. framework proposal before the talks.

"Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week," Witkoff said in a post on social media.

"That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days in which half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased will come home to their families and in which we can have at the proximity talks substantive negotiations in good-faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire," Witkoff said.

The White House said Thursday that it had submitted an Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal to Hamas.

MORE: Gazan children wait for food in long lines as starvation looms
"I can confirm that Special Envoy Witkoff and the president submitted a cease fire proposal to Hamas that Israel backed and supported. Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.


This picture taken from the grounds of the Ahli Arab Hospital, also known as the Maamadani (Baptist) Hospital, shows a cloud of smoke erupting following...Show more
Omar Al-qattaa/AFP via Getty Images
Israel's defense minister warned Hamas to take the deal or be destroyed.

"The Hamas murderers will now be forced to choose: to accept the terms of the "Witkoff Deal" for the release of the hostages - or to be destroyed," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday.

Katz added, "The IDF continues its activity in Gaza with full force, striking and dismantling Hamas outposts, while evacuating the local population from every combat zone and attacking the area from the air, land and sea on an unprecedented scale for maximum protection of our soldiers in preparation for the entry of the forces maneuvering in each area and during the maneuver."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

US military officially reacts to Iranian missile attack

Image
  US military officially reacts to Iranian missile attack In the first official U.S. military confirmation of the Iranian attack targeting Al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar, U.S. Central Command said the missile barrage was "defeated by U.S. and Qatari Patriot batteries." CENTCOM also confirmed that there were no casualties to American or Qatari personnel. "We will continue to aggressively defend our service members and partners in the region. Our adversaries should have no doubt about our resolve or our capabilities," CENTCOM Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla said in a statement. Traces are seen in the sky after Iran's armed forces say they targeted The Al-Udeid base in a missile attack, as seen from Doha, Qatar, June 23, 2025.
Read more

Ohio deputy fatally struck by man whose son had been shot by police: Authorities The man's 18-year-old son was fatally shot by police the day before. ByVictoria Arancio and Jack Moore May 4, 2025, 7:31 AM 2:10 Deputy killed in car attack in Ohio: AuthoritiesPolice are calling it a "calculated" attack. The suspect is the father of a teenager who was shot and killed by an offi...Show more Authorities in Ohio said a man "purposely" struck and killed a sheriff's deputy the day after his teen son was fatally shot by police. Rodney Hinton Jr. has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of the sheriff's deputy, who was struck Friday while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati, according to authorities. Cincinnati police said Hinton is the father of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was shot and killed by an officer the day before. Rodney Hinton Jr., seen here in court, has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of a sheriff's deputy. WCPO At a court appearance on Saturday, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies packed the courtroom in support of the fallen deputy, according to ABC Cincinnati affiliate WCPO. Prosecuting attorney Ryan Nelson said that Hinton Jr.'s movements in his car on Friday were "calculated and premeditated." He added, "He lined up his car, deliberately accelerated his car and purposely caused the death of an on-duty deputy sheriff." The attorney representing Hinton Jr. said that he faces a "very serious, very terrible charge" but noted that he has no felonies in his record. "I understand that this is an emotionally charged situation," the attorney said, mentioning the death of Hinton Jr.'s son. He added, "I understand that there is a lot of sadness and a lot of anger in this room right now and in the community at large." The judge ordered Hinton Jr. held without bond in the Clermont County jail until his next hearing on May 6. In a statement Saturday, attorneys representing the Hinton family said they were hired to investigate the death of Ryan Hinton and that Rodney Hinton, along with other family members, met with Cincinnati police on Friday to view body camera footage of his shooting death. The deputy was struck Friday while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati, according to authorities. WCPO "Ryan Hinton's family, including Ryan's father, was present at the meeting and they were understandably distraught as they watched the bodycam video," the statement said. "After the meeting with the police department, Ryan Hinton's father left in his own vehicle and that was the last we heard from him until learning about the tragic incident involving a law enforcement officer who was working a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati." The attorneys are Michael Wright, Shean Williams and Robert Gresham of The Cochran Firm, as well as Anthony Pierson of Pierson and Pierson, LLC, according to WCPO. The statement went on to say: "This is an unimaginable tragedy for this community. Ryan Hinton's family is heartbroken by this tragic turn of events and we are all devastated for the family of the officer who was killed." The deputy has not yet been publicly identified under an Ohio law that protects the privacy of victims and their families. However, police said the deputy had recently retired and was serving in a special capacity with the department

Image
Ohio deputy fatally struck by man whose son had been shot by police: Authorities The man's 18-year-old son was fatally shot by police the day  before Show more Authorities in Ohio said a man "purposely" struck and killed a sheriff's deputy the day after his teen son was fatally shot by police. Rodney Hinton Jr. has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of the sheriff's deputy, who was struck Friday while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati, according to authorities. Cincinnati police said Hinton is the father of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was  shot and killed by an officer  the day before. Rodney Hinton Jr., seen here in court, has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of a sheriff's deputy. WCPO At a court appearance on Saturday, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies packed the courtroom in support of the fallen deputy,  according to ABC Cincinnati affiliate WCPO . Prosecuting attorney Ryan Nelson said that Hinton Jr....
Read more

Israel-Iran updates: Israel and Iran agree to ceasefire, Trump says

Image
  Israel-Iran updates: Israel and Iran agree to ceasefire, Trump says The agreement has two 12-hour ceasefire periods before the war is over, he said. Iran carried out a missile attack on the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday, according to a U.S. official, two days after  the U.S. struck three nuclear sites in Iran. There are no reports of casualties at the base, according to a U.S. official. Iran's attack was in response to the U.S. on Saturday sending B-2 bombers to drop 14 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs -- known as "bunker busters" -- over Iran. President Donald Trump on Sunday said that "Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran," though Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said a full battle damage assessment is still pending. Also on Monday, Trump announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, after more than a week of aerial attacks following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear program. ...
Read more