A high-ranking Hamas official has informed the BBC that the terror organization will turn down the most recent US-proposed Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
The White House confirmed Thursday that Israel had endorsed US envoy Steve Witkoff's framework and was awaiting an official Hamas reply. According to Saudi news outlet Al Arabiya, the agreement would require Hamas to transfer 10 living hostages alongside 18 deceased hostages' remains across two stages, receiving a 60-day truce and humanitarian aid.
The Hamas representative told the BBC that the terror group would provide its formal answer when ready, stating that the current framework failed to address the organization's fundamental requirements, particularly achieving a definitive conclusion to hostilities.
The representative explained to the BBC that the proposal lacked assurances the temporary pause would transition into a lasting ceasefire, nor included provisions for returning to the humanitarian protocol that enabled hundreds of daily aid trucks during the previous truce.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed hostage families Thursday of his acceptance of Witkoff's framework, saying: "We agree to accept the latest Witkoff plan that was conveyed to us tonight. Hamas has not yet responded. We do not believe Hamas will release the last hostage, and we will not leave the Strip until all the hostages are in our hands."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed questions during a Washington news conference about reports from Al-Arabiya suggesting both Israel and Hamas had reached a new ceasefire agreement, stating: "I can confirm that Special Envoy Witkoff and the president submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas that Israel backed and supported. Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas."
She further declared, "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." A senior Hamas official subsequently told the BBC the deal conflicted with earlier discussions between the organization's negotiators and Witkoff.
