CNN
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Israel has accepted a new proposal to ceasefire with Hamas by US envoy Steve Witkov, according to Israeli officials.
Israeli officials told CNN they are seeking not only a 60-day ceasefire, but also the release of 10 living hostages and 18 dead hostages. Officials did not provide details about the beginning of negotiations for a permanent end to the war, demanded by major Hamas, which Israel refused to accept.
Hamas, meanwhile, said the latest framework comes from Israel and “stop war and hunger will not respond to any of the requests of our people,” according to Bassem Naim, a member of the extremist group’s Politburo.
“Nevertheless, movement leadership studies all national responsibility, response to proposals in light of the genocide that our people are imposed,” he added on Facebook.
According to a Hamas official, Hamas responded to Witkov’s latest proposal with three counter points.
Officials said CNN Hamas would agree to hostage release and a 60-day ceasefire, as outlined in the US proposal, but they want to ensure that negotiations on a permanent ceasefire will continue and that combat will not resume in 60 days.
Hamas hopes to implement humanitarian assistance through the United Nations channel. And finally, they hope that the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) will return to the position held on March 2 this year and return to the position they served before Israel reboots its military operations.
Another person familiar with Hamas’ counter-proposition confirmed three points.
According to the Hostage and Missing Family Forum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had accepted Witkov’s proposal to hostage families earlier in the day.
During a briefing Thursday, White House press chief Caroline Leavitt confirmed the discussion was ongoing, saying “special envoys and the president have submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas, which Israel has supported and supported.”
“We hope that there will be a ceasefire in Gaza and that we can bring all the hostage houses back into their homes. That was a priority for this administration from the start,” added Leavitt.
A Hamas official told CNN that he responded to Witkov’s proposal through Vishara Baba, a Palestinian-American interlocutor who has been discussing directly with Hamas negotiators in Doha.
Hamas officials said two days ago that they had discussed Hamas terms with Baba, who was sent to Witkov. Authorities then said “everything has changed 100%” after Witkov met Israeli official Ron Dahmer in Washington this week.
“I was shocked when I was told that two or three times by Bishara (Bahbah) he approved the framework and had no issues,” a senior Hamas official said, calling the latest Witkoff proposal a “Israel paper.”
“We are ready to return all the hostages in one day, and then we need to assure you that the war will not come again,” the official said. “In this paper, we couldn’t find it,” said Hamas official. “They want to continue the war, we want to stop this,” he added.
Naim, a member of Hamas’ Politburo, agreed with Witkoff last week, and the latest framework has been agreed to by Israel, writing on Facebook that “means perpetuating the occupation and continuing the killing and hunger.”
After this latest proposal, Hamas is ready to release half of the remaining 20 living hostages. The first Hamas official called it a “big risk” because there is no guarantee that Israel would respect the agreement.
“We know Witkov is a strong man who can do something. He is the only person who can influence Israel,” the official said.
The same official said the Trump administration recited conditions following the release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander.
“Hamas is very interested in reaching an agreement to end the war and return hostages,” the official said.
Earlier Thursday, Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalal Smotrich wrote on social media that accepting the proposal would “not allow such things,” saying it would be “pure insanity.”
However, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the proposal “publicly and immediately.” He said he would support the government, even if far-right members abandoned it.
