Hamas has signalled its rejection of the latest US-brokered ceasefire proposal, despite Israel accepting the plan. Senior Hamas officials have stated that the current terms do not meet the group’s fundamental demands, primarily citing a lack of guarantees for a permanent end to the conflict and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The White House confirmed on Thursday that Israel had “signed off” on the proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff. However, Hamas’s initial assessment has been cool, with the group indicating it will formally respond after further review.
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Core Demands Unmet in Ceasefire Proposal
The central reasons for Hamas’s likely rejection revolve around what it perceives as critical omissions and unacceptable conditions within the proposed deal.
No Guarantee of a Permanent End to Hostilities: A primary concern for Hamas is that the proposal offers only a temporary pause rather than a definitive end to the war. A senior Hamas official conveyed to the BBC that the offer “did not include guarantees the temporary truce would lead to a permanent ceasefire.” This apprehension is rooted in past experiences, notably the collapse of a two-month ceasefire in March, after which Israel resumed its military offensive.
Lack of Commitment to Full Israeli Withdrawal: The plan reportedly does not commit to a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a long-standing core demand of Hamas. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the terms “echoed Israel’s position and do not contain commitments to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops or admit aid as Hamas has demanded.”
Insufficient Humanitarian Provisions: Hamas officials have also expressed dissatisfaction with the humanitarian aspects of the proposal. Bassem Naim, another high-ranking Hamas official, described the proposal to The Associated Press as one that “in essence, means perpetuating the occupation and continuing the killing and famine,” adding that it “does not respond to any of our people’s demands, foremost among which is stopping the war and famine.”
Despite these significant reservations, Mr Naim stated that Hamas would study the proposal “with all national responsibility” and remains in contact with mediators, including the US, Qatar and Egypt. A formal written response is expected in due course.
The proposal, according to various media reports citing officials, involves a multi-phase deal. One version suggests a 60-day pause in fighting. During this period, Hamas would release a number of hostages, both living and deceased, in exchange for a significant number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, including those serving long sentences. The initial phase could see the release of 28 Israeli hostages (alive and dead) for 1 236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 Palestinians, alongside an increase in humanitarian aid.
Israeli media reports mentioned slightly different figures, suggesting 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages would be exchanged. The proposal also reportedly includes provisions for negotiations towards a long-term truce and assurances against the resumption of aggression by Israel after the initial hostage release.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly informed the families of hostages on Thursday that he had accepted US envoy Steve Witkoff’s plan. The Israeli government has not issued a formal comment, but Mr Netanyahu has previously stated that Israel will only end the war once all hostages are released, Hamas is disarmed or destroyed, and its leaders are exiled.
Hamas, conversely, has maintained its readiness to return all captives in exchange for a complete cessation and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The current conflict, which began following Hamas’s cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, has led to a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with the UN warning of catastrophic hunger levels.
Image: Bureij, central Gaza Strip, on 23 January. Photo by Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images.
