Her response to the proposal of US Special envoy Steve Witkov for a ceasefire agreement on Gaza with Israel was imposed today (31.05.2025). Hamas.
Although Hamas’ announcement does not specify whether the organization accepts or rejects the US proposal, sources told Times of Israel that it was planning to accept the offer, while submitting reservations, which were mainly aimed at preventing Israel from re -launching it.
Hamas’ statement states that her response to the Witten proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire and Israel’s complete departure from the Gaza Strip – two demands that the Israeli government has largely rejected at this stage.
It also confirms that the proposal under discussion provides for the release of 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in return for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
In 5 and not two stages the release of hostages
The Egyptian Al-Rad channel reports that the Palestinian organization, in its response, requires the return of the hostages to be divided into five stages, instead of two included in the American plan.
Hamas wants to release four living hostages on the first day of the 60 -day truce, two living hostages on the 30th day and on the last day of the deal will release four more hostages.
The organization offers to release the bodies of the dead hostages on the 30th and 50th days of the proposed ceasefire, according to reports.
A source directly involved in the negotiations told the Times of Israel that Hamas’ response to Whitkov’s proposal includes a term that makes Israel more difficult for the re -establishment of hostilities if talks for a permanent ceasefire is not completed until 60.
The source reports that this change aims to prevent the Prime Minister Netanyahu from abandoning the talks of a permanent ceasefire after the release of 10 hostages or refusing to participate in them, as he did during the previous ceasefire in January.
The source reports that there were other changes made by the Palestinian organization to the Witten proposal, adding that this would require a more prolonged negotiation process.