Hamas Rejects US-Backed Gaza Ceasefire Plan Endorsed by Israel
A senior Hamas official has informed the BBC that the group will not accept the latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal presented by the United States and approved by Israel.
Proposal Details
The plan, devised by US envoy Steve Witkoff, involves Hamas releasing 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 deceased individuals in two phases. In return, Israel would agree to a 60-day ceasefire and release Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
While Israeli media reports suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the proposal, Hamas contends that the plan fails to address their primary demands, notably a complete end to the ongoing conflict.
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Impact
Following the collapse of a previous two-month ceasefire brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza on March 18. The offensive aims to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 58 hostages, with at least 20 believed to be alive.
On May 19, the Israeli military expanded its operations, with Prime Minister Netanyahu stating that troops would “take control of all areas” of Gaza. The following day, he announced a partial easing of the blockade to allow basic food supplies into the region to avert famine.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, nearly 4,000 people have been killed in the past 10 weeks. The United Nations reports that approximately 600,000 individuals have been displaced due to Israeli ground operations and evacuation orders. A UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report warns that about 500,000 people in Gaza face catastrophic levels of hunger in the coming months.
International Response
At a press conference in Washington, D.C., White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Special Envoy Witkoff and President Biden had submitted the ceasefire proposal to Hamas, with Israel’s backing. She emphasized that the proposal was sent to Hamas after receiving Israel’s approval.
As the situation in Gaza remains dire, the international community continues to urge both parties to reach a sustainable resolution to the conflict.
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