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SvennoJ on 31 May 2025
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US envoy Witkoff slams Hamas response as ‘unacceptable’

Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy for the Middle East, has said Hamas’s response to the Gaza ceasefire proposal “is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward”. “Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week,” Witkoff said in a post on X.

“That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days in which half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased will come home to their families, and in which we can have at the proximity talks substantive negotiations in good-faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire.”

As we reported earlier, Hamas said it submitted a response to the proposal that would see 10 living Israeli captives held in Gaza freed and 18 bodies returned in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners.

The Palestinian group stressed its response was within a framework that would ensure a permanent ceasefire, a full and comprehensive withdrawal of the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip, and the free flow of humanitarian aid.

Reuters is quoting a Hamas official as saying the group had responded in a positive way to the Gaza ceasefire proposal presented by Witkoff but is seeking some amendments. The official did not provide details on the amendments being sought by Hamas, the news agency reported.

Separately, Axios reported that Israeli officials said Hamas demanded several changes to the US envoy’s proposal. “Hamas effectively rejects Witkoff’s proposal,” an Israeli official was quoted as saying in a post on X by Axios’s Barak Ravid.

Not the only way, you can stop sending Israel more bombs and impose sanctions.


Netanyahu slams Hamas response to ceasefire proposal, echoing Witkoff

“While Israel has agreed to the updated Witkoff outline for the release of our hostages, Hamas continues to adhere to its refusal. As Witkoff said, Hamas’ response is unacceptable and sets the situation back. Israel will continue its action for the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”

Note updated. 

Still the same games as Biden and Blinken were playing:

Hamas official says Witkoff plan offered ‘no guarantees’ for end to war

We’ve been speaking with Hamas official Basem Naim. Here’s some of what he said:

  • “One week ago, we agreed with Mr Witkoff on one proposal and we said ‘this is acceptable, we can consider this a negotiating paper’. He went to the other party, to the Israelis, to get their response. Instead of having a response to our proposal, he brought us a new proposal … which had nothing to do with what we agreed upon.”
  • That new proposal did not guarantee a 60-day temporary ceasefire or deliveries of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
  • “In the end, there are no guarantees for negotiations to end the war, or a permanent ceasefire, or a total withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza.
  • “We have said many times, yes we are ready to go for negotiations, but we cannot accept such a proposal as a baseline for the negotiations. Because at the end – again – what they have presented is not responding to even guarantee the inflow of humanitarian aid.”
  • “They want us to legitimise their [aid] distribution plan, which has been rejected by the whole international community, including the UN.”

And the same lies. Hamas agreed to Witkoff, then Israel first denied they agreed as well, proposal got changed for Israel, Israel accepts new proposal and Hamas is left with surrender or die again. Oh and don't forget to repeat it all started on Oct 7...

Israel’s Saar calls on European powers to pressure Hamas

The Israeli foreign minister accused the Palestinian group of “its continuation [of the war] by refusing to release our hostages and disarm”. “If France and the UK want to reach a ceasefire – pressure should be put on Hamas that continues to say No, instead of attacking Israel, which says Yes.”

His statement comes as Hamas seeks amendments to a US-backed proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, which President Donald Trump’s envoy described as “totally unacceptable”.

European powers led by London and Paris have been toughening their rhetoric towards Israel recently amid the genocide ongoing in Gaza.



It's not a ceasefire proposal. A ceasefire implies peace talks which aren't even part of the proposal.

Of course the mainstream media is now all about Hamas seeking changes / amendments to the ceasefire proposal, while all they want is the changes made for Israel to be removed again.

How many more times are we going to see this same game play out. Trump + Witkoff is no different from Biden + Blinken. All 4 need to be dragged in front of the ICC.