A senior Hamas official has criticized Israel’s response to a new ceasefire proposal issued by the United States as the group mulls the latest attempt to bring a temporary halt to the nearly 20-month war.
In a statement shared with Newsweek, Hamas Political Bureau member and spokesperson Basem Naim confirmed that the group has received the latest framework proposed last week by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has the proposal, a development confirmed by the White House on Thursday. However, Naim argued that the Israeli response served to perpetuate, rather than resolve, the conflict.
“Upon careful examination, it is clear that the Israeli response fundamentally seeks to entrench the occupation and perpetuate policies of killing and starvation, even during what is supposed to be a period of temporary de-escalation,” Naim said.
“The response fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people,” he added, “among them an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.”
Still, he said, the group was seriously considering the deal.
“Despite this, and in full awareness of the gravity of the ongoing genocide against our people, Hamas leadership is currently undertaking a thorough and responsible review of the new proposal,” Naim said.
“This evaluation is guided by a deep sense of national responsibility and a steadfast commitment to protecting the rights and the future of Palestinian people on his land,” he added.
What’s on the Table
The proposal, a copy of which was obtained by Newsweek, is the latest attempt to pause the fighting in what has emerged as the deadliest-ever episode of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The war was sparked by an October 2023 attack led by Hamas against Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of 251. Over 50,000 people have died in Gaza, according to Gaza health officials, amid Israel’s subsequent military campaign.
Today, around 58 people, fewer than half of whom are believed to still be alive, remain captive in Gaza.
The U.S. proposal entails a 60-day ceasefire, during which Trump would guarantee Israel’s commitment to not launching hostilities. Hamas would release 10 living Israeli hostages and 19 deceased hostages in two transfers divided between the first and seventh day of the agreement, while Israel would release 1,236 individuals held in Israeli prisons and 180 bodies.
On the 10th day of the ceasefire, both sides would provide up-to-date information on the condition of those being held by the respective sides.
Israel would also halt military and aerial reconnaissance activity over Gaza for 10 hours each day, and up to 12 hours on the days on the days in which hostages and prisoners were exchanged. Israeli troops would conduct a redeployment in the Netzarim Corridor and northern Gaza, and the flow of humanitarian assistance from the United Nations and Red Crescent would resume through mutually agreed channels.
The agreement also calls for the immediate launch of follow-up negotiations toward securing a permanent ceasefire as well as the release of all remaining hostages, living and dead. The deal also allows for an extension of the temporary ceasefire if a new agreement is not reached within 60 days.
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