Hamas, the Palestinian group, has formally addressed a ceasefire proposal backed by the United States, but a senior member stated that the terms offered “do not guarantee an end to the ongoing conflict.”
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Basem Naim expressed that while Hamas has “positively engaged” with the latest proposal communicated by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, the current terms differ significantly from those previously agreed upon just a week ago.
“Last week, we reached a consensus with Mr. Witkoff on a specific proposal, which we deemed acceptable and could serve as a basis for negotiations,” Naim explained. “However, instead of returning with the response we expected, he presented us with an entirely new set of proposals that were unrelated to our previous agreement.”
Earlier that same day, Hamas announced it had responded to Witkoff’s offer, stating that their conditions aim to achieve a lasting ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and uninterrupted humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in Gaza.
As part of the agreement, Hamas committed to the release of ten living Israeli captives and the remains of 18 deceased Israelis in exchange for a mutually agreed number of Palestinian detainees.
Witkoff, however, termed Hamas’s response as “unacceptable.”
“Hamas must accept the framework we proposed as the foundation for immediate proximity talks,” he stated in a social media post. “This is the only pathway to establish a 60-day ceasefire deal that could allow half of the living hostages and deceased individuals to reunite with their families, facilitating substantial negotiations in good faith toward a permanent ceasefire.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Witkoff’s sentiments, branding Hamas’s response as a setback and reaffirming Israel’s commitment to securing the return of hostages and overcoming Hamas.
Since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, over 54,000 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces, with widespread starvation becoming a critical issue in Gaza amidst weeks of blockades and only limited aid flow allowed since mid-May.
Starvation Crisis
As hopes for a lasting truce diminish, the level of hunger and despair in Gaza escalates. After a comprehensive blockade lasting over two months, Israel is permitting only a minimal flow of humanitarian aid into the region. The UN recently cautioned that the entire 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza are now at risk of famine, following reports earlier indicating that one in five Palestinians is experiencing severe hunger.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has mobilized sufficient food supplies near Gaza’s borders to sustain the region’s population for two months, reiterating its call for an immediate ceasefire as the sole method to deliver food to those in dire need.
Despite bringing in 77 trucks filled with flour, the WFP struggled to distribute aid due to widespread desperation among the local populations. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by U.S. and Israeli authorities, continues its controversial aid efforts amid accusations of violating humanitarian norms and militarizing the distribution process. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, at least 10 Palestinians have died in confrontations while attempting to receive aid.
“We arrived at a new GHF distribution point only to leave empty-handed,”recalls Layla al-Masri, a desperate resident. “Their claims of wanting to aid the people of Gaza are nothing but lies.”
Another displaced person, Abdel Qader Rabie, lamented the dire conditions: “There’s nothing left to feed our families—no flour, no food, no bread.” He described how every time he seeks aid, he is met with throngs of individuals scrambling for resources: “If you’re strong, you get assistance; if not, you leave empty-handed.”
Concerns are also emerging regarding safety, as families report individuals missing after visiting GHF distribution points. “One case involves a man from the al-Mughari family, who has vanished near the Netzarim Corridor,” reported Hind Khoudary from Deir el-Balah, central Gaza. Israeli officials have denied these allegations.
Ongoing Bombardments and Displacement
The Israeli military continues its aggressive campaign in Gaza, with civil defense sources indicating that approximately 60 homes were bombed within just 48 hours in Gaza City and northern regions. Reports surfaced on Saturday detailing that at least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes, pushing the death toll beyond 3,900 since Israel resumed hostilities in March, dissolving a previous ceasefire amid heightened international criticism.
The Israeli army has ordered all residents in southern Khan Younis, Bani Suheila, and Abasan to evacuate emergency as it accuses these areas of hosting rocket launch sites. Military spokesperson Avichay Adraee remarked that these regions have repeatedly been identified as combat zones and warned of imminent military action.
According to UN estimates, nearly 200,000 people have been displaced in just the last two weeks, with evacuation orders now blanketing the entirety of Gaza’s northernmost, southernmost, and eastern regions.