Israel accepts temporary Gaza ceasefire proposal, says US
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Washington: The White House announced that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal for Gaza, while the Israeli military continues its operations in the conflict-stricken region.
At a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump "submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas that Israel backed and supported."
"Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas. I can also confirm that those discussions are continuing, and we hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home," said Leavitt.
"I won't comment further, as we are in the midst of this right now," she added.
An Israeli official and a US source familiar with the matter confirmed that the proposed agreement includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 10 living hostages, and the transfer of the remains of 18 deceased hostages, according to a report from Xinhua news agency citing CBS News.
Hamas announced on Thursday that its leadership had received the new Gaza ceasefire proposal from Witkoff through mediators and was currently reviewing it.
Basem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said in a statement on Thursday that the movement had received the Israeli response to the US proposal brokered last week by US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to Naim, the Israeli position fails to address key Palestinian demands, including a complete cessation of hostilities and the lifting of the long-standing blockade on Gaza.
He said the proposal would allow for the continuation of "the occupation" and humanitarian suffering, even during any temporary truce.
"Nevertheless, the movement's leadership is evaluating the proposal with a sense of national responsibility, particularly in light of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people," Naim said.
Hamas had previously said it had agreed with Mr Witkoff on a "general framework" of an agreement that would lead to a lasting ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an influx of aid, and a transfer of power from the militant group to a politically independent committee of Palestinians.
(inputs from IANS)
