White House envoy says Hamas response to U.S. proposal "takes us backward"
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U.S. Special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff delivers remarks alongside President Trump on May 28 in the Oval Office.
White House envoy Steve Witkoff said in a statement on Saturday that Hamas' response to his ceasefire and hostage deal proposal is "totally unacceptable and only takes us backward."
Why it matters: Hamas didn't accept Witkoff's proposal as a basis for negotiations and demanded numerous changes that brought the negotiations once again to a deadlock.
- This comes after President Trump expressed optimism on Friday about the chances of getting a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza soon and stressed that both sides "want to get out of this mess."
Driving the news: Witkoff sent Hamas a new U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and hostage deal on Wednesday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Israel signed off on the proposal before Witkoff submitted it to Hamas.
- Witkoff's proposal for a 60-day ceasefire — under which Trump would guarantee Israel's compliance — didn't differ much from previous propositions.
- It involved the release of 10 live hostages and 18 deceased hostages held in Gaza — half on the first day and half on day 7 of the ceasefire.
- In exchange, Israel would release 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israel, another 1,100 Palestinians detained by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza after Oct. 7, 2023, and the bodies of 180 Palestinians allegedly killed during attacks on Israelis.
Catch up quick: Over the last two days, Hamas has been debating the proposal internally. Some of Hamas' leaders believed that rather than meeting in the middle, Witkoff's offer included new concessions to Israel.
- Hamas officials expressed serious concerns about the lack of clear guarantees that Israel won't again unilaterally end the ceasefire.
State of play: Hamas gave its response to Witkoff on Saturday through the Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah who has been facilitating talks with the group. Hamas also sent its response to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
- In its response, Hamas asked to change the sequence and the timetable for the release of the 10 live hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages that are included in the deal so that it takes place on six tranches during the 60-day ceasefire.
- Hamas also demanded that the IDF fully withdraw to the lines it was positioned before the previous ceasefire collapsed in March.
- But the main sticking point was Hamas' demand for U.S. guarantees for ending the war.
Zoom in: While Witkoff's proposal said the U.S., Qatar and Egypt would all guarantee serious negotiations take place for a permanent ceasefire, Hamas demanded in its response a clear U.S. guarantee that the negotiations will end with an announcement on a permanent ceasefire, sources with direct knowledge said.
- "Hamas also wanted the text to say that if an agreement on a permanent ceasefire isn't reached within 60-days, the temporary ceasefire will be automatically extended for an unlimited period," a source with direct knowledge said.
What they are saying: "Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week," Witkoff said in a statement on Saturday, rejecting Hamas' response.
- The White House envoy said the only way to start a negotiation on a permanent ceasefire is if Hamas agrees in the coming days to the 60-day ceasefire deal.
- The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that while Israel agreed to Witkoff's proposal, "Hamas continues its rejectionism."
- "Israel will continue its efforts to bring our hostages home and to defeat Hamas," the prime minister's office said.
What to watch: The U.S., Egypt and Qatar are all pressing Hamas to revise its response, agree to Witkoff's proposal and start negotiations on the final details of the deal, sources said.
