AhlulBayt News Agency: Hamas has announced that it has submitted its official response to a ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump’s regional envoy, Steve Witkoff, to mediators.
In its statement on Saturday, the Palestinian resistance group emphasized that its response included a demand for an end to Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, which it described as genocidal.
Under the proposed deal, Hamas stated that it would release 10 living Israeli captives along with 18 bodies in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
“This proposal aims to secure a permanent ceasefire, ensure a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and guarantee the flow of humanitarian aid to our people and families in Gaza,” Hamas declared.
According to Hamas, its response was formulated “after conducting a round of national consultations.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that he “accepts the new Witkoff outline.”
The Witkoff proposal reportedly includes a 60-day halt in Israel’s offensive on Gaza, renewed diplomatic efforts toward a lasting peace, and guarantees from the Israeli government that it will not resume military operations after Hamas releases captives—a promise Tel Aviv previously broke when it ended a two-month ceasefire on March 18.
The ceasefire collapsed because Israel declined to proceed with the planned second phase, which could have led to a permanent resolution of the war. Instead, Israel resumed its intense attacks on Gaza and severely restricted the entry of humanitarian aid.
“After nearly 80 days of a total blockade, communities are starving—and they are no longer willing to watch food pass them by,” the World Food Program (WFP) warned on Saturday.
The United Nations and regional powers have urged both Hamas and Tel Aviv to reach an agreement to end the war and mitigate its humanitarian consequences.
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