Hamas gives positive response to US ceasefire proposal, with a few caveats

Palestinian militant group Hamas responded on Saturday to a US proposal to bring about a 60-day ceasefire in its conflict with Israel, agreeing to release 10 hostages in Gaza, in return for 18 prisoners (dead and alive). This comes amid the 60+ deaths from the Israeli onslaught, updated statistics show.

“This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip,” the Hamas statement said, as per a Guardian report.

Hamas' responded postively to the ceasefire proposal presented by US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, but also put forth certain amendments, the report added, citing a Palestinian official in the know.

Despite Hamas pushing for a permanent end to the conflict, Israeli media outlets allege that some of the amendments—such as Hamas' decision to slowly release the 10 hostages over the 60-day truce period—were aimed at preventing Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu from abandoning talks on a permanent ceasefire, thus hindering their ability to continue the conflict later. 

The outlets also reported, citing an Israeli official, that Tel Aviv considered Hamas' response to be an "effective rejection" of Washington's 60-day ceasefire proposal.

The militant group's initially lukewarm response to the proposal later underwent “a round of national consultations”, leading to their updated proposal on Saturday, which they submitted to the mediators of the peace negotiations.

Middle East