WASHINGTON: The US rejected on Monday (Could 26) an assertion by Hamas that the group had accepted a Gaza ceasefire proposal that reportedly includes the liberation of 10 hostages in two batches and a 70-day truce.
A Palestinian official near Hamas had stated earlier it had agreed to a proposal by US particular envoy Steve Witkoff for a Gaza ceasefire, which was acquired by Hamas via mediators.
A Hamas supply informed AFP that the group had “agreed to the brand new proposal” by the US, “which the motion acquired from mediators.”
However reporting by Axios, confirmed to AFP by Witkoff’s spokesman, stated the US envoy disputed that the Palestinian militant group had agreed to his proposal.
“White Home envoy Steve Witkoff rejects Hamas’ declare that the group has agreed to his proposal for a hostage and ceasefire deal,” Axios reporter Barak Ravid stated on X.
He went on to quote the US envoy saying, “What I’ve seen from Hamas is disappointing and fully unacceptable.”
ISRAEL RAMPS UP OFFENSIVE IN GAZA
The define of a possible deal was revealed as Israel ramped up its offensive within the Palestinian territory, and follows earlier rounds of talks which have failed to succeed in a breakthrough ever since a two-month ceasefire fell aside in mid-March.
The Hamas supply stated the deal included “a 70-day truce in alternate for the discharge of 10 hostages in two batches, and in the course of the truce, negotiations would start on a everlasting ceasefire with American ensures.”
The US, Egypt and Qatar have all had a hand in mediating the ceasefire talks all through the conflict. Witkoff was concerned within the negotiations that earlier led to the final ceasefire deal.
However the halt in preventing fell aside amid disagreements over learn how to transfer ahead, with Israel resuming its operations in Gaza on March 18. On March 2, Israel imposed a complete help blockade on the territory that it stated was aimed toward forcing concessions from Hamas, with UN companies since warning it has created important shortages of meals, clear water, gas and medicines, amid warnings of looming famine.
