Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff rejected on Monday reports that Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire proposal, saying the one Israel has previously said it will agree to different terms.
Reuters reported that Hamas had agreed to the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for a 70-day truce and a partial withdraw from Israeli forces in Gaza, as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Witkoff, however, told Axios reporter Barak Ravid that Israel will agree to a deal that would see half of all living hostages and half of all dead hostages return and "and lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire."
🚨🚨🚨White House envoy @SteveWitkoff tells me Israel will agree to a temporary ceasefire and hostage deal that would see half of the living and half of the deceased return "and lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I agreed to preside…
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 26, 2025
"That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it," Witkoff added. He also described Hamas' actions as "disappointing and completely unacceptable."
The development comes days after the Wall Street Journal confirmed that several members of Hamas' top brass, including Mohammed Sinwar, brother of slain leader Yahya Sinwar, were killed in a recent airstrike, leaving a new void in the group's leadership.
The outlet detailed that the operatives were attending a meeting in a tunnel in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. Among the topics discussed was the way to approach ceasefire talks with Israel, the outlet said. Mohammad Shabana, the commander of the Rafah brigade, was also killed.
Israel began in mid-May expanded operations in the enclave, aiming to seize its entire territory and displace its two million residents to a so-called humanitarian zone. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli Defense Forces will only stop the offensive if Hamas agrees to release all hostages remaining there, give up its arms and exile its leaders, among other demands.
A senior Israeli official said in early May that the army's plan to take over the Gaza Strip also contemplates facilitating voluntary emigration from the enclave.
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