Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of the hostages held in Gaza that Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal presented by the special envoy of US President Donald Trump in the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. On the other hand, the Hamas organization has not responded, stating that they are analyzing the proposal.
„We are about to send a new proposal which, hopefully, will be delivered later today,” Steve Witkoff declared on Wednesday. He mentioned having „a very good feeling about the possibility of reaching (…) a temporary ceasefire and a long-term solution,” as reported by AFP and Reuters.
Confirmation from the White House
Israel approved the latest American ceasefire proposal in Gaza before it was sent to the Palestinian group Hamas, stated White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt on Thursday, as reported by Reuters.
President Donald Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff forwarded the proposal to Hamas after it was approved by Israel, she said.
"I can also confirm that discussions are ongoing, and we hope for a ceasefire in Gaza so that we can bring all hostages back home," Leavitt stated in a press conference.
When asked if Hamas had accepted the proposal, she responded: "No, as far as I know."
Hamas is not satisfied, but is analyzing the proposal
The American ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip, approved by Israel, "does not meet any of our people's demands," stated Bassem Naim, one of the Hamas leaders in exile, on Thursday, as reported by France Info.
"The occupation's (Israel - ed.) response essentially means the perpetuation of the occupation, the continuation of crimes and starvation, and does not meet any of our people's demands, especially the cessation of war and famine," said the Hamas leader.
"The leadership of the movement (...) received the new proposal from the (special envoy of US President Donald Trump for the Middle East, Steve) Witkoff from the mediators and is currently studying it responsibly, in order to serve the interests of our people, bring them comfort, and lead to a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," stated a Hamas press release.
Ceasefire after 600 days of war
On the 600th day of the Gaza war, triggered by the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel killed Mohammed Sinwar, considered one of the last active leaders of the Islamist movement in the small coastal territory devastated by conflict.
The attack on October 7 resulted in the death of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data. Out of the 251 people abducted that day, 57 are still held in Gaza, with at least 34 confirmed dead, according to Israeli authorities.
Over 54,249 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli retaliatory campaigns, according to data from the Gaza Health Ministry, considered reliable by the UN.