REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Confusion Over Gaza Ceasefire Proposal as Hamas Signals Approval and Israel Rejects Terms
CAIRO, May 26 — Conflicting statements from Hamas, Israel, and U.S. officials have clouded prospects for a new ceasefire in Gaza, following claims by a Palestinian official that Hamas had accepted a U.S.-backed proposal — an assertion later denied by both Washington and Jerusalem.
The Palestinian source, who is close to Hamas, told Reuters that the group had accepted a proposal delivered via mediators from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff. The plan reportedly included a 70-day ceasefire, the release of 10 Israeli hostages in two phases, a partial Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
However, a senior Israeli official rejected the proposal outright, calling it unacceptable and asserting that no “responsible government” could approve such an agreement. The official also denied that the terms were consistent with any proposal authored or endorsed by Witkoff.
In a further complication, Witkoff himself disavowed the reported deal, stating in an interview with Reuters that Hamas had not accepted any plan he had put forward and that the terms under discussion were “completely unacceptable.”
Netanyahu Suggests Progress Possible
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded cautiously in a social media video, saying he “hoped very much” to announce developments regarding Israel’s operations in Gaza and the status of hostages, either “today or tomorrow.” His office declined to elaborate on the nature of the anticipated progress.
Diverging Positions
Hamas has previously stated its willingness to release all hostages captured during the October 7, 2023 attack — in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 people taken into Gaza — if Israel agrees to a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from the territory.
Israel, however, has maintained a firm stance that only a temporary ceasefire could be agreed to, and that the war will continue until Hamas is fully dismantled. Since Israel resumed its military campaign in March after a brief January ceasefire, hostilities have escalated sharply.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, nearly 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. The destruction of civilian infrastructure has compounded the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where aid groups warn of widespread malnutrition and collapsing health services.
Stalemate and Uncertainty
The contradictory statements on the ceasefire proposal reflect the deep mistrust and diverging objectives that continue to block progress toward a resolution. While third-party mediators — including U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari officials — continue to explore options, no definitive roadmap has emerged.
The reported proposal, though publicly dismissed by both Israel and the U.S., underscores that backchannel negotiations remain active. Whether they can produce a breakthrough, however, remains highly uncertain as the war grinds on with severe civilian consequences and no immediate end in sight.
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