A day after US envoy Steve Witkoff rejected Hamas’s latest proposal, it is now ready to start a new round of indirect negotiations, aiming to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel. In a statement on Sunday, the group said it wants the talks to settle “points of contention” and move closer to ending the war in Gaza.
According to Hamas, the goal of the talks is to create a deal that “ensures relief for our people and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe, ultimately leading to a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces.”
A day earlier, Hamas gave an updated proposal to Steve Witkoff. However, Witkoff rejected the new terms, saying the proposal was “totally unacceptable” and “takes us backward.” He added that he hoped Hamas would accept his “framework proposal” to start another round of talks this week.
NO CLEAR SIGN IF HAMAS CHANGED PROPOSAL
It remains unclear if Hamas has changed or withdrawn any of the elements of the proposal it made to Witkoff. The group’s latest statement does not directly say whether it has changed its demands.
Hamas wanted the deal to include a rule that would stop Israel from attacking again after the 60-day ceasefire. A similar truce ended in January when the fighting started again.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have approved the ceasefire plan, and US President Donald Trump said negotiators are “nearing a deal” after nearly 20 months of conflict.
