US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday rejected Hamas’ response to a US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, calling it completely unacceptable.
“I have received Hamas’ response to the US proposal. It is completely unacceptable and only takes us backwards,” Witkoff said on the X platform.
“Hamas should accept the framework proposal that we have put forward as a basis for direct talks, which we can start as early as next week,” the envoy added.
He stressed that this is the only way to conclude a two-month ceasefire agreement in the coming days, under which half of the living hostages and half of those who are dead would be returned to their families.
“And that we are conducting serious negotiations in these talks with the intention of achieving a permanent ceasefire,” Witkoff announced.
Earlier, the Palestinian group announced that it had submitted its response to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal that Witkoff submitted through mediators from Egypt and Qatar.
In its statement, which appeared to be a list of demands, Hamas called for a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and guarantees for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the area.
