Israel denies latest version of ceasefire deal with Hamas Rejects terms as “impossible”

Israel has rejected claims that it had accepted a new proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, dismissing the terms as unacceptable and inconsistent with the country’s war objectives.

The Times of Israel reported that rumours of a new agreement, allegedly endorsed by Israel, originated from Lebanon, per Caliber.Az.

However, a senior Israeli official speaking on May 26 categorically denied the reports.

“The offer Israel received cannot be accepted by any responsible government. Hamas is putting forward impossible conditions that mean a complete abandonment of the war objectives and the impossibility of releasing the hostages,” the official told reporters, declining to elaborate on specific terms of the proposal.

A prominent group representing the families of Israeli hostages also rejected the reports, stating that the alleged deal did not guarantee the return of all captives or provide for a final end to the war, both of which remain central demands for the families.

Several earlier media reports, citing sources, had suggested that a new agreement was in the works—one similar to previous deals that would include a temporary cessation of hostilities in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and an increase in humanitarian aid deliveries to the enclave.

The conflict began with Hamas’s surprise assault on southern Israel, during which approximately 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage. Israel’s military response has involved a sustained and extensive offensive in Gaza. According to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 53,000. Israel, for its part, reports the loss of more than 400 soldiers since the start of the war.

Israeli authorities estimate that 58 hostages remain in Gaza, with roughly 20 believed to still be alive.

Despite intensive diplomatic efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to mediate a ceasefire and secure a new hostage exchange, no breakthrough has yet been achieved.

By Tamilla Hasanova