Hamas skeptical of US ceasefire deal as Gaza crisis deepens

A senior Hamas official has said that a US-brokered ceasefire proposal in Gaza does not satisfy the group’s core demands, though it confirmed that internal discussions on the plan are ongoing.

The statement comes amid renewed international efforts to end the latest wave of hostilities in the region, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The White House announced that Israel has agreed to the terms outlined by US envoy Steve Witkoff and is now awaiting an official response from Hamas. While the Palestinian militant group has not outright rejected the offer, it has expressed skepticism over its terms.

According to Israeli media reports citing senior officials, the proposed deal would unfold in two phases. Under the terms, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and hand over the remains of 18 deceased hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention.

The ceasefire proposal seeks to revive stalled negotiations following the collapse of a previous two-month truce brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. That truce fell apart on March 18, after which Israel reimposed a total blockade on Gaza and resumed military operations against Hamas.

The humanitarian toll has been severe. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reports that nearly 4,000 people have been killed in the territory over the past 10 weeks of renewed fighting.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher accused Israel of imposing conditions that amount to "forced starvation" on Gaza’s population. Fletcher called for stronger international action to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, stating that the global community has a "moral and legal obligation" to act decisively to alleviate the crisis.

As pressure mounts for a sustainable ceasefire and humanitarian access, both sides remain locked in a complex diplomatic standoff. Analysts suggest that any resolution will require bridging significant gaps between Israel’s security demands and Hamas’ political conditions.

By Vafa Guliyeva