Rubio: US received no Hamas proposal for 60-day Gaza ceasefire

The Washington administration has not received any proposal from Hamas offering a 60-day pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip in exchange for releasing half of the hostages, and it is not interested in such an arrangement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the remarks in an interview with Fox News, according to Caliber.Az. 

Rubio emphasised that the US has not seen any such letter, and even if it existed, it would carry no weight.

He noted that President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is not interested in a temporary pause or partial hostage release. “He wants all the hostages released — all 48, including 20 alive and 28 deceased,” Rubio said.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which erupted on October 7, 2023, began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages to the Gaza Strip. Israel's subsequent military campaign has aimed to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities, rescue the hostages, and prevent future attacks, leading to over 65,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials. 

Under the second Trump administration, U.S. policy has emphasized a swift end to the conflict through the unconditional release of all hostages and the complete elimination of Hamas as an armed entity. President Donald Trump has positioned himself as a mediator, issuing public "warnings" to Hamas via Truth Social, demanding the release of all captives—living and dead—and threatening severe consequences for non-compliance. Trump's special envoys, including Steve Witkoff for Middle East peace and Adam Boehler for hostage negotiations, have engaged in indirect talks via Qatar and Egypt, rejecting phased releases in favour of a single, comprehensive deal.

By Khagan Isayev