Hamas Says US 'Violates the Integrity and Fairness' in Israel Peace Talks

Newsweek

2 days ago

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A senior Hamas official criticized the United States for treating Israel's demands as the "only response for negotiation," calling it a violation of "the integrity and fairness of mediation" in ceasefire talks.
In a statement shared with Newsweek, Hamas Political Bureau member and spokesperson Basem Naim stated that militant group did not reject the U.S.'s proposal.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. State Department and the Israeli government for comment via email on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Tensions in the region remain high during the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the Israeli government and Hamas, with the U.S. acting as a key interlocutor. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that the U.S. "take over the Gaza Strip," a proposal that Arab nations have unanimously rejected.
The U.S., Israel's top diplomatic and financial ally, provides more than $3.8 billion in annual military aid, with an additional $17.8 billion authorized since Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The ongoing Israel-Gaza war has led to mass destruction, death, and famine in the enclave for 20 months. At least 1.9 million people—about 90 percent of the population in Gaza—have been internally displaced by Israeli bombardments, according to the United Nations. Israel's ground and air bombardments have killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, per the Gaza Health Ministry.
What To Know
Hamas has not accepted the proposal put together by Trump's Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff, instead having proposed amendments.
"Last week we came to an agreement and understanding with him on a proposal, which he deemed acceptable for negotiation," Naim told Newsweek in a statement.
Some of the reported changes relate to pathways to a permanent ceasefire, full troop withdrawal, and increased aid assistance.
He continued that the group was informed of the "Israeli response, which disagreed with all the provisions we had agreed upon." In a previous statement, Naim said the Israeli position seeks to "entrench the occupation and perpetuate policies of killing and starvation."
Despite this, Naim said Hamas reviewed the proposal in a way that examined how the minimum "demands and aspirations of our people" could be met, including a guaranteed 60-day ceasefire, sufficient aid entry, and negotiations to terminating the war. The White House confirmed that Israel "signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas."
"Why, each time, is the Israeli response considered the only response for negotiation?" Naim said in the statement, adding that "this violates the integrity and fairness of mediation and constitutes a complete bias towards the other side."
The draft proposal, a copy of which was obtained by Newsweek, is the latest attempt to pause the fighting in what has emerged as the deadliest-ever episode of the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The war was sparked by an October 2023 attack led by Hamas and allied Palestinian factions against Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the abduction of 251. Today, around 58 people, fewer than half of whom are believed to still be alive, remain captive in Gaza.
The new U.S. proposal to pause the conflict entails a 60-day ceasefire, during which Trump would guarantee Israel's commitment to not launching hostilities. Hamas would release 10 living Israeli hostages and 19 deceased hostages in two transfers divided between the first and seventh day of the agreement, while Israel would release 1,236 individuals held in Israeli prisons and 180 bodies.
On Saturday, Witkoff wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Hamas' response to the proposal is "totally unacceptable and only takes us backward."
The Israeli Prime Minister's office echoed similar remarks, saying on Saturday: "While Israel has agreed to the updated Witkoff framework for the release of our hostages, Hamas continues to cling to its refusal...It is unacceptable and sets the process back."
Israel ended the last ceasefire in March, cutting aid into Gaza and bombing it.
The images coming out of the war of mass starvation, collapsing health care and unlivable conditions have brought more attention to the conflict in recent weeks, with France increasing its criticism on Israel's conduct and advancing a U.N. conference to recognize a Palestinian state.
Thick smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on June 1.
Thick smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on June 1.
AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi
What People Are Saying
Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said in a May 31 X post, which was reshared by the official Israel page: "Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week. 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."
French President Emmanuel Macron said during a press conference in Singapore this weekend: "The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground. And so, if there is no response that meets the humanitarian situation in the coming hours and days, obviously, we will have to toughen our collective position. But I still hope that the government of Israel will change its stance and that we will finally have a humanitarian response."
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, wrote in a May 29 X post: "Nothing can justify the number of civilian casualties (tens of thousands of women and children) inflicted by Israel in Gaza in the last two years. We should end all U.S. military aid to Israel now."
U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in a Fox News interview published Saturday: "If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I've got a suggestion for them: Carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. They are welcome to do that."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week: "Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas. I could 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, and that's been a priority from this administration from the beginning. I won't comment further as we are in the midst of this right now."
What Happens Next?
Israeli airstrikes continued to hit Gaza on Sunday, with one attack striking an aid distribution site in Rafah and killing at least 26 people, according to Reuters. Ceasefire negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days.
Later this month, France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair a United Nations conference on the issue of a Palestinian state, humanitarian aid, and hostage release.