Newsletters
Hamas has reportedly handed over its response to the ceasefire proposal put forward by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to the mediators, according to a written statement from the group.
The statement said: “After a national consultation tour and driven by our strong responsibility toward our people and their suffering, Hamas today submitted its response to US envoy Steve Witkoff’s latest proposal through the mediators.”
The response aims to establish a lasting ceasefire, secure a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
As part of the agreement, Hamas said it would release ten living hostages and hand over eighteen bodies. In exchange, a mutually agreed number of Palestinian prisoners would be released.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in a press briefing two days ago that “Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the President [Donald Trump] have presented a ceasefire proposal to Hamas, which Israel has supported and approved. The proposal was approved by Israel before being sent to Hamas. I can confirm that discussions on this matter are ongoing.”
Hamas added in its statement that the proposal has been reviewed “with a sense of responsibility” by its relevant units, and that the response will “protect the interests of the Palestinian people in Gaza, facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, and help establish a lasting ceasefire.”
6 min read
