Hamas Submits Response to US Ceasefire Proposal Following National Consultations
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced on Saturday that it has delivered its official response to the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Weitkoff.
The response was submitted to mediators after a round of internal consultations, which the movement described as part of its 'high sense of responsibility toward the Palestinian people and their suffering.'
In a statement, Hamas said the proposal, as framed, must lead to a permanent ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in the besieged enclave.
The group confirmed that, under the framework of the proposed agreement, ten Zionist captives held alive by the resistance would be released, along with the return of 18 bodies, in exchange for a negotiated number of Palestinian prisoners.
💢 Hamas submits its response to US envoy Steve Witkoff's Gaza ceasefire proposal via Egypt and Qatar, calling for a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal, and steady humanitarian aid
▫️They offer to release 10 Israeli captives and 18 bodies in exchange for an agreed… pic.twitter.com/luAuS0j2KL
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) May 31, 2025
Proposal Details and Israeli Reaction
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported earlier that the Zionist government had received the US proposal on Wednesday evening, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official.
According to the report, the proposal includes the release of 10 live Zionist captives and the handover of 10 bodies in two stages in return for a 60-day temporary ceasefire.
Previously, Hamas had confirmed it had received the updated Weitkoff proposal through Qatari and Egyptian mediators and was studying it carefully, emphasizing that any agreement must safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people and result in a lasting ceasefire.
However, the Israeli Walla News quoted a senior Zionist official who said the latest proposal was 'more favorable to Israel' than previous ones and lacked firm US guarantees for a permanent ceasefire.
The official noted that the proposal does not clearly state whether a ceasefire would continue beyond 60 days if negotiations remain unresolved.
Early Saturday, Reuters quoted US President Donald Trump as saying he believes both Hamas and the Israeli occupation are looking for 'a way out of the chaos.' The remarks followed Trump's statement late Friday from the White House, in which he revealed that both parties were 'very close' to reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
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