Official: Hamas reviewing new Gaza ceasefire plan submitted by US envoy

Hamas official Basem Naim has said that the Palestinian group Hamas is still reviewing a new ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip put forward by US president’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff.

The US proposal for Gaza suggests a 60-day ceasefire along with the release of 28 Israeli hostages—both living and deceased—within the first week. In return, 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 Palestinians would be freed, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The document states that the plan is backed by US President Donald Trump as well as mediators Egypt and Qatar, and includes the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza once Hamas agrees to the ceasefire. The aid is to be distributed by the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other designated organisations. The White House announced that Israel had accepted the US ceasefire proposal.

Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed families of the hostages that Israel had agreed to the deal put forward by Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, though the prime minister’s office declined to comment officially. Hamas responded by saying it had received Israel’s reply but that it "fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people," including an immediate halt to hostilities and the resolution of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. 

Naim criticised the Israeli response, saying it "fundamentally seeks to entrench the occupation and perpetuate policies of killing and starvation, even during what is supposed to be a period of temporary de-escalation." According to the US plan, Hamas would release the remaining 30 of the 58 Israeli hostages once a permanent ceasefire is established. The document also states that Israel would stop all military operations in Gaza as the truce begins, with Israeli forces redeploying gradually. 

Previous efforts to restore a ceasefire after its collapse in March have been hindered by deep divisions between Hamas and Israel. Israel demands that Hamas disarm, dismantle its military and governing structure, and return all hostages before agreeing to end the conflict. Hamas refuses to disarm and insists Israel withdraw its troops and end the war.

By Naila Huseynova