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Steve Witkoff, the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, has dismissed Hamas’s response to the recent ceasefire proposal as "totally unacceptable," warning that the group’s position undermines progress toward an agreement.
In a statement released by the Office of the Special Envoy, Witkoff said, “I received the Hamas response to the United States’ proposal. It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward.”
Witkoff called on Hamas to accept the framework previously submitted by the United States as the basis for proximity talks, which he said could begin "immediately this coming week."
“That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days,” he added, outlining that such an agreement would include the return of half of the living hostages and half of the deceased to their families.
Witkoff also emphasized that the framework would allow for "substantive negotiations in good faith" during proximity talks, with the goal of achieving a permanent ceasefire.
The envoy’s comments come shortly after Hamas confirmed it had delivered its official response to mediators regarding the US-led proposal. The group said its response focused on achieving a lasting ceasefire, securing a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and ensuring the continuous flow of humanitarian aid.
Despite the rejection, diplomatic sources indicate that indirect negotiations may continue, with growing international pressure for a resolution to the conflict and a sustained humanitarian truce.
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