Hamas accepts to Gaza proposal, Israel rejects it, say Palestinian official

United States special envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposal for a truce in Gaza was accepted by Hamas, according to a Palestinian official quoted by Reuters on Monday. However, an Israeli official denied that the proposal originated in Washington and added that no Israeli government could accept it.

Witkoff said Reuters that what he had witnessed was “absolutely unacceptable” and that the idea under discussion was not the same as his own. Witkoff further denied that Hamas had accepted his offer of a truce in Gaza and a prisoner deal.

The agreement, which was accepted by Hamas through intermediaries, would see the release of 10 captives and a 70-day ceasefire, according to the Reuters report citing Palestinian official, who is close to Hamas.

“In exchange for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial pullout from the Gaza Strip, the proposal calls for the release of 10 Israeli hostages who are still alive and held by Hamas in two groups,” according to the source cited by Reuters.

It further included Israel’s release of some Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds who had been imprisoned for long periods of time.

An Israeli official rejected the plan, denying that the arrangement matched one that Witkoff had suggested and stating that no respectable country could approve such an agreement, as per the report.

According to Reuters, Israel restarted its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, thereby ending a truce agreement with Hamas that had been in place since January. Two days later, missiles and strikes were launched by Hamas and its allies.

Hamas has stated that it is prepared to commit to a permanent truce in exchange for Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza and to release all hostages that have been taken by its fighters during attacks on southern Israeli settlements on October 7, 2023.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war can only end once Hamas is destroyed and that Israel would only accept a short-term ceasefire in exchange for the release of captives. (Forelines)