Hamas has agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal it attributed to US special envoy Steve Witkoff for a Gaza ceasefire, a Palestinian official close to the group told Reuters on Monday.
The new proposal, which sees the release of 10 hostages and 70 days of truce, was reportedly received by Hamas through mediators.
"The proposal includes the release of ten living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in two groups in return for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial withdrawal from the Gaza Strip," the source said.
The proposal also sees the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, including hundreds of those serving lengthy prison terms. The framework agreed upon by Hamas appeared to be distinct from Witkoff's proposal that Israel had previously approved.
Hamas claims rejected by Witkoff, says no offer agreed by group
Witkoff responded to the claims on Monday, rejecting the notion that Hamas had accepted the offer for a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza.
"What I've heard so far from Hamas has been disappointing and completely unacceptable," he told Walla.
He affirmed that Israel has agreed to his offer for a deal that includes releasing half of the living hostages and half of the deal.
"I agreed to lead these negotiations," Witkoff emphasized, "There is a deal on the table and Hamas needs to accept it."
The ceasefire "will lead to meaningful negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire," he added.
No responsible government could accept Hamas ceasefire proposal, an Israeli official said.
Israel rejected Hamas-crafted deal earlier on Monday
Earlier on Monday, Israel said it rejected a Hamas-crafted proposal for the immediate release of five hostages which it said was was formulated by Hamas and passed on through direct backchannel communications to the US, which then presented the plan to Jerusalem.
"[The proposal is] very far away from the outline that we are willing to negotiate on," an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.
Notably, the US didn't say whether it supported the proposal or not.
The proposal included the release of five living hostages in return for the following points: IDF withdrawing to its positions in Gaza from two months ago, allowing humanitarian aid into all areas of Gaza, continued talks for the release of remaining living and dead hostages, what was described as "some kind of American recognition of Hamas."
The United States has asked Israel in recent days to delay its full-scale military operation in Gaza as part of efforts to exhaust negotiations for a hostage deal, two sources familiar with the matter told the Post on Sunday.
Netanyahu is prepared for a temporary ceasefire to bring back hostages
Despite the ongoing military activity and as a result of Israeli statements, the US has asked Israel to allow the current negotiations for a potential hostage deal to continue. “If there’s an opportunity for a temporary ceasefire to bring back hostages, we are prepared for that,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last Wednesday.
Israel decided to recall its delegation from Qatar last Thursday after Hamas insisted on American guarantees to end the war as part of any agreement.
Israeli officials maintain that the only deal currently on the table is the "Witkoff framework," which includes the release of 10 hostages and a 60-day ceasefire. An Israeli source told the Post a few days ago, “It’s deadlocked.”
Although the Israeli delegation has left Qatar, the US administration continues indirect talks with Hamas through Dr. Bashara Bahbah, who previously led the “Arab Americans for Trump” campaign.
European leaders speaking out on Gaza, aid distribution
The new proposals come as a growing number of European officials have been voicing their concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Israel's recent attacks on Gaza are taking a humanitarian toll on civilians that can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism.
Hamas bears full responsibility for provoking the war in Gaza, using its people as human shields, and placing military infrastructure beneath civilian sites, but it is time for Israel to make a truce, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with broadcaster Rai 3.
“Hamas’s trap dragged Israel into a war that the civilian population is paying for…Hamas has a huge responsibility toward its own people, which it is using as a human shield,” he added, calling it “criminal to build military bases under hospitals.”
“Israel has won the war against Hamas,” Tajani said, adding, "harming the civilian population to such an extent, as has increasingly been the case in recent days, can no longer be justified as a fight against Hamas terrorism."
Earlier this month, several EU leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, also called for an immediate ceasefire.
Reuters and Walla contributed to this report.
