Sat May 31 22:52:09 UTC 2025: **Hamas Responds to Ceasefire Proposal, Deal Stalls Over Guarantees**
**Gaza City** – Hamas has submitted its response to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza, including the release of 10 living captives and the return of 18 bodies in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. However, a senior Hamas official stated that the proposal lacks guarantees to end the ongoing war.
Basem Naim told Al Jazeera that while Hamas responded “positively,” the presented deal differed significantly from an earlier agreement reached with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. According to Naim, Witkoff presented a “new proposal” after consulting with the Israelis, which deviated from their initial agreement.
Hamas’s statement emphasized that its response “aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid” to Palestinians.
Witkoff dismissed Hamas’s response as “totally unacceptable,” urging the group to accept the original framework proposal to initiate proximity talks immediately. He emphasized that this would enable a 60-day ceasefire, the return of half of the living and deceased hostages, and substantive negotiations for a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Witkoff’s sentiment, deeming Hamas’s response unacceptable and detrimental to progress. He affirmed Israel’s commitment to securing the return of hostages and defeating Hamas.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians since October 2023, with Gaza facing widespread starvation due to Israeli blockades. The UN warns that the entire population of Gaza is at risk of famine. Despite increased aid flow in mid-May, the World Food Programme (WFP) emphasizes that an immediate ceasefire is essential to effectively deliver aid.
Controversy surrounds the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with other aid groups raising concerns about potential violations of humanitarian principles and the militarization of aid delivery. Reports indicate that at least 10 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access aid.
Meanwhile, Israeli military actions continue, with reports of at least 20 Palestinian deaths in recent bombings across Gaza. The Israeli army has also issued evacuation orders in southern Khan Younis, Bani Suheila, and Abasan, resulting in further displacement of nearly 200,000 people in the past two weeks alone.
First Piper 