Hamas says consultations still ongoing regarding Witkoff proposal

Egypt Today

2 days ago

CAIRO – 30 May 2025: Hamas said on Friday that it is still consulting with Palestinian forces and factions regarding the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff ceasefire proposal in Gaza that was received via mediators.
In another statement, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) called on the Hamas leadership to exert more efforts, in cooperation with Arab mediators, to reach an agreement to halt the aggression in the Gaza Strip, even for 60 days.
The statement explained that this period would be sufficient to allow for regional and international initiatives to develop the situation in the favor of the Palestinian people.
The official spokesman for DFLP said that given the impasse in the ongoing negotiations with the US administration to halt the aggression on the Gaza Strip, due to Washington's clear bias towards the Israeli position of continuing the war, the Front is fully confident that the Hamas leadership is fully aware of the grave dangers facing our people if a ceasefire is not reached immediately.
High hopes are pinned on the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff ceasefire proposal in Gaza after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced accepting it; while Hamas said in a statement that it has received it via mediators and will 'study it responsibly'.
The new suggested proposal is to secure a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and allow aid to enter the Strip following the two sides' approval.
The White House also expressed its optimism with the new proposal from envoy Steve Witkoff according to Axios, saying that this proposal expected to help bridge the remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas and produce a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza soon.
'If each side moves just a bit, we could have a deal within days,' Axios quoted a source.
In case Hamas announced its approval; the United States President Donald Trump will explain details of the new brokered deal.
According to Israeli reports, Witkoff has affirmed repeatedly Trump's commitment to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza. The proposal states that US, Egypt, and Qatar are listed as guarantors for maintaining the ceasefire over the 60-day period and any potential extension.
Trump will be guaranteeing Israel's compliance, while Hamas is to release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 individuals—half on the first day and half on the seventh day of the ceasefire, according to the proposal.
Also, humanitarian aid is to be delivered to Gaza once both sides agree on the ceasefire and its distribution will be coordinated by the UN and the Red Crescent.
On the tenth day of the ceasefire, Hamas is expected to provide full information regarding all remaining hostages.
The Israeli occupation authorities have closed the Gaza crossings since March 2, following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
An agreement to consolidate the ceasefire was not reached, and Israel violated it with airstrikes on March 18, resuming its ground incursion and occupying various areas of the Gaza Strip.
Israel also blocked relief aid and reconstruction equipment from entering Gaza. Limited aid trucks resumed entry into Gaza on Monday, May 19.