Hamas Rejects the Proposal
After Israel expressed its willingness to accept a new ceasefire proposal brokered by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas officials told the BBC on Friday morning that the organization is rejecting the proposed framework.
According to Hamas, the proposal fails to include a commitment to a complete end to hostilities, does not ensure an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and does not return to the humanitarian framework agreed upon during the previous ceasefire.
10 Hostages Alive, 18 Bodies
According to a document published Thursday by the Al Arabiya network, the proposal outlines an immediate 60-day ceasefire, during which 10 live hostages and 18 bodies of Israeli casualties would be released in two phases. Simultaneously, fighting would stop, and humanitarian aid would flow through the UN and the Red Crescent.
In Exchange: Prisoner and Body Releases
In return, Israel would release 125 convicted terrorists serving life sentences, 1,111 detainees arrested since October 7, and 180 bodies of Palestinian militants. All releases would take place without celebrations or media coverage from Hamas. Additionally, the IDF would reposition forces in northern and southern Gaza according to pre-agreed terms.
Path Toward a Permanent Agreement
The next stage of the plan includes intensive negotiations toward a permanent arrangement, focusing on four key areas:
- The complete release of all hostages, both living and deceased
- Establishing security understandings regarding the Gaza Strip
- Creating a regional force deployment for the post-war period
- Reaching a formal end to the war
If significant progress is made, the ceasefire could be extended beyond the initial 60 days.
International Guarantees
The document states that the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar would act as guarantors of the agreement. President Donald Trump would publicly announce the start of the ceasefire and oversee its diplomatic implementation until completion. Israeli officials have confirmed their acceptance of the proposal, but the decision now lies with Hamas.
“We will not leave Gaza without bringing all the hostages home,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised in his meeting with the hostages’ families.
