Friday | May 30, 2025
Israel Accepts US-Backed Ceasefire Proposal; Hamas Offers Conditions for Agreement
Israel has agreed to a new ceasefire proposal presented by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, marking a significant step toward a potential pause in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. An Israeli official confirmed to CNN that the proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of the bodies of 18 deceased hostages. In exchange, a 60-day truce would be implemented, temporarily halting military operations. However, the official emphasized that the proposal does not include any agreement on initiating negotiations for a permanent ceasefire — a core demand from Hamas that Israel continues to reject.
While Israel’s acceptance of the proposal indicates a shift in diplomatic momentum, Hamas has expressed skepticism and concern over the framework. In a statement posted on Facebook, Bassem Naim, a senior figure in Hamas’s political bureau, said the current plan originates from Israel and “does not respond to any of our people’s demands, foremost among which is stopping the war and famine.” He further added that despite these shortcomings, Hamas leadership is carefully reviewing the proposal “with all national responsibility,” in view of what he described as the ongoing “genocide” against the Palestinian people.
According to a senior Hamas official who spoke to CNN, the militant group has responded to Witkoff’s initiative with a three-part counterproposal. Firstly, Hamas agrees in principle to the release of hostages and the 60-day ceasefire as outlined in the US-backed plan. However, they are demanding formal assurances from the United States that negotiations toward a permanent cessation of hostilities will continue during the truce period, and that there will be no resumption of fighting once the 60 days expire.
Secondly, Hamas insists that all humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza be channeled through the United Nations and its agencies, rather than being managed or filtered through Israeli authorities or third-party intermediaries. This is seen as an effort to ensure greater neutrality and effectiveness in the delivery of food, medical supplies, and basic services to the embattled civilian population in Gaza.
Thirdly, Hamas is calling for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw to the positions they held on March 2, 2025, prior to Israel’s latest round of escalated military operations. The group sees this as a critical measure to de-escalate tensions on the ground and establish conditions for sustained peace talks.
Another source with knowledge of the negotiations corroborated Hamas’s three conditions, reinforcing the seriousness with which the group is considering the offer.
Meanwhile, in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed families of hostages that his government had accepted the terms of Witkoff’s proposal, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The acknowledgment underscores the growing pressure on the Israeli leadership to secure the release of hostages and provide relief from the prolonged war.
From Washington, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a Thursday briefing that special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Joe Biden had jointly submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas, and that it had received Israel’s endorsement. “We hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home, and that’s been a priority for this administration from the beginning,” Leavitt said, indicating that the US remains actively involved in facilitating a negotiated resolution.
Despite the progress represented by Israel’s acceptance of the plan, the path to a full agreement remains fraught with challenges. Hamas’s conditions, particularly regarding a permanent end to the war and the movement of IDF troops, are likely to face stiff resistance from Israeli leadership. Nevertheless, the current developments mark one of the most significant diplomatic openings since the latest round of violence erupted, and the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the two sides can bridge the remaining gaps to achieve a sustained ceasefire.
‘We want to stop this’
Tensions Rise as Hamas Says US-Backed Ceasefire Proposal Was Altered After Israeli Input
Efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza are facing new complications, as Hamas accuses US envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli officials of altering a previously agreed-upon framework. A senior Hamas official told CNN that the group initially responded favorably to a ceasefire proposal conveyed through Palestinian-American intermediary Bishara Bahbah, who has been in direct contact with Hamas negotiators in Doha, Qatar.
According to the official, Hamas discussed their terms with Bahbah two days prior, and these conditions were passed along to Witkoff. The official expressed frustration and shock, saying the group had received repeated confirmations from Bahbah that the US envoy approved the framework and “had no problem” with the proposed terms. However, after Witkoff reportedly met with Israeli strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer in Washington this week, the Hamas official said, “everything changed 100%.”
“We were shocked because we were told 2–3 times from Bishara [Bahbah] he approved the framework,” the official said, labeling the latest version of the proposal an “Israeli paper,” suggesting it reflects Israeli demands more than an agreed compromise. “We are ready to return all the hostages in one day — just we want a guarantee that war will not come again after that,” the official added. “Now in this paper we didn’t find it. They want to continue the war, we want to stop this.”
Bassem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’ political bureau, echoed this sentiment on Facebook, claiming that the new proposal no longer matches the framework allegedly reached last week with Witkoff. Naim argued that the current version appears to “perpetuate the occupation and continue the killing and famine,” reinforcing Hamas’ narrative that Israel is not genuinely pursuing peace.
Despite these concerns, the senior Hamas official said the group is willing to take what they describe as a “big risk” by releasing half of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages, even without a clear guarantee that Israel will uphold the terms of any agreement. The official stressed the urgency and seriousness with which Hamas views the negotiations: “Hamas is very, very interested to reach an agreement to end the war and return the hostages.”
Hamas is also seeking clear US assurances that any ceasefire deal will lead to a permanent end to hostilities and that military operations will not resume after the 60-day pause. The group has further demanded that humanitarian aid be coordinated through United Nations channels and that the IDF withdraw to its pre-March 2 positions.
The official expressed cautious optimism about Witkoff’s influence, saying, “We know that Witkoff is a strong man — he can do something. He’s the only one who can impact Israel.” However, trust remains fragile, in part due to a past experience during the Trump administration. The official claimed that after the release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander, the Trump administration failed to deliver promised humanitarian aid and a public statement of gratitude, contributing to Hamas’ current insistence on stronger guarantees.
In Israel, the ceasefire proposal has sparked political turmoil. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich harshly criticized the plan, calling it “sheer madness” and vowing on social media, “I will not allow such a thing to happen. Period.” His opposition signals a potential collapse of Netanyahu’s governing coalition if the proposal advances.
However, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid took a starkly different stance, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “publicly and immediately” accept the deal. Lapid pledged to support the government from the opposition benches if far-right members withdrew in protest, prioritizing the return of the hostages over political considerations.
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that special envoy Witkoff and President Joe Biden had submitted a ceasefire plan that Israel officially backed. She emphasized the administration’s continued hope that the truce will take effect soon and allow for the safe return of hostages — a top US priority since the conflict escalated.
As negotiations teeter between breakthrough and breakdown, the days ahead may prove decisive. The credibility of intermediaries, the willingness of leaders on both sides to compromise, and the resolve of international actors like the United States will determine whether this latest ceasefire proposal can stop the bloodshed — or whether it will become yet another missed opportunity in a long and devastating war.