US says Israel examining temporary ceasefire proposal
A US source familiar with the Steve Witkoff negotiations tells Al Jazeera that the Hamas claims are “inaccurate”, and that Hamas has not agreed to a ceasefire proposal.
In fact, what the US does see from Hamas is “disappointing and completely unacceptable”.
Instead of an agreement with Hamas, what the United States says is that there is a temporary ceasefire agreement proposal with the Israelis, and what this would do is allow for half of the living captives, as well as half of the deceased, to be returned.
In turn, the White House believes this would lead towards a diplomatic path of discussions that could result in a permanent ceasefire.
And this is the deal that the source tells Al Jazeera is what Hamas should take.
US envoy says Gaza ceasefire deal is on the table, as Israel prepares for ‘unprecedented attack’
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/26/middleeast/us-envoy-gaza-ceasefire-deal-intl
The proposal would see the release of half of the living hostages and half of those who have died in exchange for a temporary ceasefire before negotiations begin for a comprehensive agreement to end the war.
He declined to specify how long that temporary truce would last, which has been a key issue in the negotiations.
“Israel will agree to a temporary ceasefire/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 have agreed to preside over,” Witkoff told CNN on Monday. “That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it.”
How is that a deal? Especially after last time.
Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim has made a stunning revelation accusing both Donald Trump and his envoy, Steve Witkoff, of betraying Palestinians by refusing to honour the deal related to the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. Alexander was released from Gaza by Hamas as a goodwill gesture ahead of Trump’s Middle East visit. The latest bombshell by Hamas would severely impact the credibility of the US administration. Rifat Jawaid questions the morality of the broader West for the silence on the Gaza atrocities.
Witkoff can't be trusted, Netanyahu has to be stopped. He'll never agree to end the genocide with US as negotiator as well as backer and provider.
Israeli PM’s ‘new red lines’ for ending war
On Monday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he hopes to have some news about the captives today or tomorrow.
But, hours later, he clarified those remarks, saying that Israel is doing what it can to bring about the release of Israeli captives, and he meant that if Israel doesn’t get it accomplished today, they will try again tomorrow and the day after, and all the day moving forward.
Several Israeli officials who have spoken anonymously to Israeli media have denied the fact that Hamas has accepted any sort of deal, noting that the Witkoff proposal that is on the table, Israel has accepted and that they have been waiting for Hamas to do so.
However, Hamas says that one of their conditions for a deal is an end of the war. But the Israelis have long not wanted this condition at all, and the Israeli premier even added new red lines for what to him would bring an end of the war.
That includes the return of the Israeli captives, the demilitarisation of Hamas [and] the exile of military and political leaders. But, also, the implementation of Trump’s plan for Gaza.
This is a plan that has been widely condemned as ethnic cleansing, and the White House even walked it back several months ago.
But Netanyahu says that’s what he wants if there is to be an end of the war.
