The White Home on Thursday confirmed that Israel agreed to a ceasefire proposal submitted by Center East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump in a transfer to return the 58 hostages who’ve been held in Gaza for greater than 600 days.
“Israel signed off on this proposal earlier than it was despatched to Hamas,” White House press secretary Karoline Levitt instructed reporters. “I can even affirm that these discussions are persevering with, and we hope {that a} ceasefire in Gaza will happen so we are able to return all the hostages residence.”
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White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters on the White Home on Might 29, 2025. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin)
Levitt wouldn’t remark additional on the small print of the proposal, and Hamas doesn’t but seem to have agreed to the proposal.
State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce instructed reporters Thursday there’s a sense of “essential optimism” however confirmed the Hamas place is “unknown at this level.”
An announcement launched on Wednesday by the terrorist organization stated, “The most recent of those efforts was reaching an settlement with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on a basic framework, which achieves a everlasting ceasefire, a whole withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the move of humanitarian help, and the formation of knowledgeable committee to handle the affairs of Gaza upon the announcement of the settlement.”
Hamas fighters stand in formation as Palestinians collect on a road to look at the handover of three Israeli hostages to a Crimson Cross crew in Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip, on Feb. 8, 2025. (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures)
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Hamas additionally claimed the latest proposal it had reviewed included the discharge of 10 Israeli hostages in addition to “quite a lot of our bodies” in change for an unconfirmed variety of Palestinian prisoners.
It’s unclear if these particulars have been additionally included within the proposal agreed to by Israel.
Following the discharge of Edan Alexander, the ultimate American-Israeli hostage nonetheless alive in Hamas captivity this month, 58 hostages stay.
American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, left, was launched on Might 12, 2025. The our bodies of 4 different People are nonetheless being held in Gaza: Itay Chen, second left, Judy and Gadi Weinstein and Omer Neutra. (Fox Information)
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An estimated 24 of the hostages are assessed to be alive, although Israeli reporting has recommended this quantity may very well be much less.
The our bodies of four American Israelis taken on Oct. 7, 2023, proceed to be held captive, together with Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai.
Yonat Frilling contributed to this report.
