A ceasefire proposal regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, introduced by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, remains under consideration by Hamas. However, officials from the group have expressed concerns that, if accepted in its current form, it would lead to “continued killing and famine” within the region.
On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Israel has tentatively approved the proposal, which has been presented to Hamas by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, for their review.
Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, conveyed to Reuters that the proposal fails to address crucial demands, especially the cessation of hostilities. “Nevertheless, our leadership is evaluating the proposal responsibly,” Naim added.
Although the specifics of the ceasefire plan remain undisclosed, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri indicated to Reuters that it notably lacks any commitments from Israel to end its military operations, withdraw troops from Gaza, or facilitate the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into the devastated territory.
As of now, the Israeli government has not publicly verified its acceptance of the proposed ceasefire.
Israeli media reports this week suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed families of captives in Gaza that he is willing to proceed with Witkoff’s temporary ceasefire plan.
Political analyst Akiva Eldar commented to Al Jazeera that Israel’s early endorsement of the proposal is unusual, speculating that Netanyahu might be banking on the plan being unpalatable for Hamas, aiming to portray them as the “bad guys” while continuing military actions.
Conflicting Reports
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have been impeded by stark disagreements over conditions, notably Israel’s demand for Hamas to fully disarm versus Hamas’s call for a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
This latest development comes amid conflicting reports from earlier this week, when Hamas asserted it had reached a “general framework” for a ceasefire with Witkoff and was waiting for a final response. The group claimed the agreement included provisions for a permanent ceasefire, total withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, and unimpeded humanitarian aid access.
According to Hamas, the proposed deal would also see the establishment of a committee to manage Gaza’s affairs following the declaration of a ceasefire, with Trump allegedly guaranteeing that hostilities would cease within 60 days.
However, Witkoff later refuted these claims, stating that what he perceived was “completely unacceptable.” An anonymous official connected to Witkoff also criticized the claims as “inaccurate” and “disappointing.” Similarly, Israeli officials dismissed Hamas’s statements, labeling them as “psychological warfare” and “propaganda” in discussions with The Times of Israel.
Following a six-week temporary ceasefire, Israel renewed its military operations on March 18, with Netanyahu declaring that forces would resume attacks “with full force.” Since then, the Israeli military’s renewed actions in Gaza have reportedly led to nearly 4,000 deaths, pushing the overall toll in the enclave beyond 54,000, according to Gaza health authorities.
In addition to military actions, Israel has maintained a stringent blockade on humanitarian supplies entering the region, which UN officials warn is edging the population towards famine. A partial lifting of the blockade on May 19 allowed minimal aid but was described by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as merely a “teaspoon” of what is essential.
This week, chaotic scenes unfolded as desperate Palestinians sought life-saving supplies distributed by the controversial U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which claimed it would deliver aid in the stricken enclave.