A senior official from Hamas has indicated that the group is likely to reject a new ceasefire and hostage exchange plan put forward by the United States and accepted by Israel. The proposed agreement would see Hamas release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in two stages, in exchange for a 60-day truce and the release of Palestinian prisoners. According to the official, the plan fails to meet core demands, including a complete end to the war, and a formal response will be issued later.
Israel has not made any public statements about the proposal, but reports from local media say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told families of the hostages that he supports the deal. The White House confirmed Israel’s acceptance of the plan and said talks with mediators are ongoing in hopes of securing an agreement that allows for the return of all hostages.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, has continued despite previous ceasefire efforts. So far, 197 hostages have been recovered, with 148 found alive. Israel resumed military operations in March following the collapse of a previous two-month ceasefire.
In mid-May, Israel expanded its offensive across Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israeli forces would take full control of the region. He later announced a slight relaxation of the blockade, permitting limited food aid to prevent mass starvation. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, nearly 4,000 people have died in the last ten weeks alone. The UN estimates around 600,000 people have been displaced again, and nearly half a million face severe hunger, as per a UN-backed report.
Hamas has criticized the current US proposal, saying it lacks a clear path to a lasting ceasefire and fails to restore previous humanitarian aid levels that once allowed hundreds of supply trucks into Gaza each day. The group remains in contact with mediators and said it will submit a written reply soon.
Netanyahu reportedly told hostage families that Israel had agreed to the latest plan conveyed by US envoy Steve Witkoff. Still, he also expressed doubt that Hamas would release the final hostages. He reaffirmed that Israel would not end the war until all hostages are returned, Hamas is dismantled, and its leaders are removed from Gaza. In contrast, Hamas said it is willing to free all hostages if Israel agrees to a full withdrawal and a permanent ceasefire.
On Thursday alone, 54 people were reported killed in Israeli strikes, including 23 in one household in the Bureij area. Israel’s military confirmed attacks on dozens of targets in the past day. The Gaza health ministry estimates that over 54,000 people have died since the war began.
