Hamas seeks stronger ceasefire guarantees, presses US for clarity on Gaza proposal

The Palestinian movement Hamas has clarified that it did not reject a recent ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip put forward by Stephen Witkoff, the US President’s special envoy, but instead introduced amendments aimed at securing more concrete guarantees.

The clarification came from Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader based in Gaza, who addressed the issue in a statement quoted by Qatar’s Al Jazeera, Caliber.Az reports.

According to al-Hayya, Hamas received the latest proposal from Witkoff last week. The plan called for the release of 10 living hostages and the return of the bodies of 18 deceased hostages over the course of seven days. However, al-Hayya stressed that the plan lacked firm guarantees that Israel would not resume military operations on the eighth day.

“We did not reject the proposal, but we made amendments to it and demanded real assurances that fighting in Gaza would not restart,” he said.

He added that Hamas remained committed to engaging in a “serious new round of negotiations” and accused Israel of undermining every potential agreement that, in his view, could have been achieved since March.

On May 29, the Israeli outlet Ynet reported that Witkoff had put forward a new ceasefire initiative aimed at ending hostilities in Gaza. The plan envisioned an immediate 60-day ceasefire and the phased release of 10 living hostages during the first week. In parallel, Hamas would return the bodies of 18 deceased Israeli hostages. In return, Israel would free a number of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with pre-approved lists. The proposal also stipulated the resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip through the United Nations and other international organisations.

On the same day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a briefing that Israel had approved Witkoff’s plan before it was shared with Hamas.

Subsequently, on May 31, Hamas delivered its formal response to the mediators. The movement reaffirmed its willingness to release 10 living hostages and return the 18 bodies, in exchange for the release of a specified number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. However, Hamas underscored that its reply included additional conditions — most notably, a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.

While Hamas maintained that these additions were essential to ensure lasting peace and prevent a return to violence, both Witkoff and Israeli officials reportedly viewed the response as a de facto rejection of the original proposal.

By Tamilla Hasanova