Hamas says received new proposal from US envoy over Gaza ceasefire

GAZA -- Hamas said Thursday that its leadership has received a new Gaza ceasefire proposal from US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff through the mediators and is studying it.

"The Hamas leadership has received Witkoff's new proposal from the mediators and is responsibly studying it in a way that serves the interests of our people, provides relief, and achieves a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip," Hamas said in a brief statement.

It did not provide further details about the proposal.

On Wednesday, Hamas said in an official statement it had reached an agreement with Witkoff on a general framework for Gaza ceasefire, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the exchange of 10 living hostages and several bodies for Palestinian prisoners, the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the transfer of Gaza's governance to a technocratic committee.

Earlier on Thursday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that Israel had received Witkoff's proposal via US intermediaries, which includes a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in two phases.

Quoting a senior Israeli official, Kan TV said Israel will in return release 1,236 Palestinian detainees and prisoners, along with the bodies of 180 Palestinians.

The proposal does not require Israel to commit to ending its 19-month offensive in Gaza but requires that both Israel and Hamas engage in negotiations on a long-term truce. The United States, Egypt and Qatar will serve as guarantors of the ceasefire deal.

Israel estimated that 58 hostages remain in Gaza, including 20 believed to be alive. They were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Oct 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing Israeli offensive.

Israel ended a previous three-phase ceasefire deal in March, following two months of truce during which Hamas released 33 hostages. Israel declined to proceed with the second phase and resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18.

The death toll in Gaza from the Israeli attacks has topped 54,000 since the start of the offensive in 2023, according to Gaza's health authorities.