New ceasefire agreement

[Namechangedformyanswer]

BBC report a new ceasefire agreement mediated by the US. Israel has agreed to it. Waiting for Hamas to decide if they also want a ceasefire.

It is an inflammatory headline but apparently Katz said it according to the article

“The Hamas murderers will now be forced to choose: accept the terms of the ‘Witkoff deal’ for the release of the hostages – or be annihilated,” said Katz.

It could be fighting talk designed to get Hamas to agree to the proposal or it could be a serious threat, who knows.

That language is very reminiscent of Trump's language when he came into power which obviously then didn't happen.

The Jerusalem Post: Hamas likely to issue positive response to Witkoff's ceasefire proposal - report

Hamas announced Saturday morning that it plans to deliver a response later in the day to the ceasefire proposal that was issued by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, with sources telling Saudi news sources Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that the terrorist organization will respond positively to the envoy's proposal, but with reservations.

The initial announcement was made by a senior official of the terrorist organization to the Hamas-affiliated newspaper Al-Risalah, adding that the response will come after a series of leadership consultations within the terror group.

Hamas will express opposition to the lack of clear guarantees for ending the war, according to Al-Arabiya, while also reporting that the terrorist organization will warn in its response that it will not allow Israel "freedom of action to renew the war," and will demand US guarantees for the implementation of the clauses in any agreement with Israel. The report also said that Hamas will request, as part of the proposal, that Palestinian prisoners should not be handed over in just two days, as stated in Witkoff's proposal, but rather in batches over the 60-day truce.

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-856137

Times of Israel: Full text of Witkoff’s proposal for 60-day Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal

The following is the text of US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff’s proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, which was reportedly accepted by Israel and passed along to Hamas for its approval on May 29, 2025. The authenticity of the text was confirmed to The Times of Israel by two sources familiar with the negotiations.

Framework for Negotiating an Agreement to a Permanent Ceasefire
1. Duration: 60-day ceasefire. President Trump guarantees Israel’s adherence to the ceasefire during the agreed-upon period.
2. Release of Hostages: 10 Israeli live hostages and 18 deceased hostages, from the “list of 58” to be released on days 1 and 7-half of the living and deceased hostages (5 living and 9 deceased) will be released on day 1 of the agreement. The remaining half of the hostages (5 living and 9 deceased) will be released on day 7.
3. Humanitarian Assistance: Aid will be sent into Gaza immediately once Hamas agrees to the ceasefire agreement. Whatever agreement is reached on aid to the civilian population will be respected throughout the course of the agreement. Aid will be distributed through agreed upon channels that will include the United Nations and Red Crescent.
4. Israeli Military Activities: All Israeli offensive military activities in Gaza will cease upon this agreement entering into force. During the ceasefire period, there will be a cessation of aerial movement (military and surveillance) in the Gaza Strip for 10 hours daily, or 12 hours daily during days when exchange of hostages and prisoners take place.
5. IDF redeployment:
a. On day 1, after the release of the Israeli hostages (5 living and 9 deceased), redeployment in the northern part of the Gaza Strip and in the Netzarim corridor, in accordance with article 3 regarding the humanitarian aid and base on maps to be agreed upon.
b. On day 7, after the release of the Israeli hostages (5 living and 9 deceased), redeployment in the southern part of the Gaza Strip in accordance with article 3 regarding the humanitarian aid and based on maps to be agreed upon.
c. The technical teams will work out final redeployment boundaries during proximity negotiations.
6. Negotiations: On day 1, negotiations under the auspices of the mediators-guarantors on the necessary arrangements for a permanent ceasefire will commence, including:
a. Keys and terms for the exchange of all the remaining Israeli hostages for a number to be agreed upon of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
b. Issues relating to redeployments and withdrawals of Israeli forces and long-term security arrangements within the Gaza Strip.
c. Arrangements relating to the “day after” in the Gaza Strip, which would be raised by either side.
d. The announcement of a permanent ceasefire.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-witkoffs-proposal-for-60-day-gaza-ceasefire-and-hostage-release-deal/

So did Hamas agree or not? I am confused by the news?

The Hamas response was ambiguous in that they neither accepted nor rejected it. They replied with their own proposal and their own conditions. They offered to release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 more in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners.

As stated in this article, Hamas’ response included new demands not present in the version approved by Israel, notably a “comprehensive” withdrawal of Israeli forces and a return to the previous model of humanitarian aid distribution—rather than through IDF-secured centers managed by a U.S.-based contractor.

Israeli officials maintain that such a conditional response does not constitute acceptance under the terms presented.

According to Saudi broadcaster Al Hadath, Palestinian factions in Gaza have reportedly urged Hamas to accept the proposal, viewing it as an opportunity to halt the war and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, despite its shortcomings. One faction reportedly said, "This proposal could stop the hunger and displacement."

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byigacdmxl

So basically @mids2019 Hamas did not accept the US ceasefire proposal but instead responded with their own ceasefire proposal.

Which Israel obviously will not accept so the war continues with not even a temporary ceasefire.

In what sense is Israel taking over Gaza and treating Palestinian citizens as second class people a “win”?

It's clearly not tenable to leave Gaza under Hamas control though.

It’s clearly not tenable to just let Israel take it by force either.

It’s incredibly easy for people to say everything would end if Hamas “surrendered” but that’s far from true. I wonder how close to peace the area would be if Israel withdrew from Gaza in its entirety, including the West Bank.

It’s clearly not tenable to just let Israel take it by force either.

Ideally Hamas would surrender and an international coalition of some sort would govern the area as an interim step, but they don't seem interested in doing so, and Israel will keep fighting Hamas as long as they're there.

Do a lot of people calling for ceasefire just think that Gaza should carry on under Hamas rule? Do they not think this is setting the area up for a constant state of attack and counter-attack?

I wonder how close to peace the area would be if Israel withdrew from Gaza in its entirety, including the West Bank

I think if Israel pulled their security measures in the West Bank they'd have a huge upsurge of terrorism.

@ArtTheClown I think if Israel pulled their security measures in the West Bank they'd have a huge upsurge of terrorism.

Why would you say that? Why can’t Israel have their “security measures” in what is officially Israel?
Why are Israeli settlers taking control of large areas in the West Bank being described as security measures? It’s nothing like it.

The solution is clearly not that either side “surrenders” far, far to much horrendous acts have been committed by both sides but it’s tidally disingenuous for people to keep claiming Israel is offering a true and genuine ceasefire and “end to the war” as some as suggesting when they want to retain control of Gaza. It’s never going to work, it’s not an end to the war.

Looks like Hamas have put forward totally unreasonable deman d's and the peace talks have broke down.....Hamas really don't realise they are screwed do they?

What were those unreasonable demands ?

Hamas responded to a US ceasefire proposal by saying it is prepared to release 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 dead hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners, while requesting some amendments to the plan.
The group repeated its demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and guarantees for the continuous flow of humanitarian aid. None of these are in the deal on the table.

The group repeated its demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and guarantees for the continuous flow of humanitarian aid. None of these are in the deal on the table.

According to BBC.

I don't see these demands as unreasonable but they are in complete conflict with Netanyahu's ultimate stated aim which is to carry out Trump's Plan of ethnic cleansing the region.

So any ceasefire talks are completely pointless really.

It looks like the number of hostages released is the same, I can only see that the Israeli deal said “28 hostages alive and dead” so I presume it’s the same hostages on the Hamas counter.
The key difference is the 60 day time period, allowing free flow of aid and removing the military presence from Gaza.

It does go against the idea that Israel’s main focus is the hostages and not simply both sides using that as leverage for clearly a much larger aim.
I can’t see Hamas ever accepting a permanent solution that leaves Israel in Gaza, the people of Gaza don’t want that.
I mean hard line Israelis do but surely there are enough moderates who don’t want Israel to continue to pursue and expand their occupation of Gaza.

So their unreasonable demands were;
"Stop firing at us, get your troops out of what's left of Gaza and let anyone apart from you, provide us with aid."

I agree with @mids2019 they are all absolutely unacceptable ( and possibly antisemitic) .

If it wasn’t so serious I would say it’s laughable that Hamas are acting like they are in a position to impose terms.

Their position is so much weaker than it was in January, say. But they just don’t seem to get it.

You think it’s unreasonable to ask for the ceasefire to be permanent?
Or for aid to be free flowing and not controlled by Israel?
Or that in order for there to be an end to the war Israel would need to withdraw from Gaza?

I mean I don’t think anyone expects Israel to comply with this but I really, really don’t understand how anyone can really argue with the requests.
To give the come back in this context shy Hamas are “weaker” just suggests you think Israel have a right to do all the above points.

Thats not a viewpoint that actually wants peace.

Hamas response 'sets the situation back', Netanyahu's office says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has released a statement about Hamas's response to the US-backed ceasefire deal.

In it, the office accuses Hamas of refusing the US ceasefire proposal and says Israel is committed to defeating the group. It also echoes the statement made a little earlier by US special envoy Steve Witkoff and says that Hamas is setting talks back.

The statement reads: "While Israel has agreed to the updated Witkoff outline for the release of our hostages, Hamas continues to adhere to its refusal.
"As the US president's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said: Hamas's response is unacceptable and sets the situation back.
"Israel will continue its action for the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c628n68zpj6t

You think it’s unreasonable to ask for the ceasefire to be permanent?

Yes. It's entirely unreasonable for Hamas to think they can retain control of Gaza.
It works also be a terrible outcome for the Gazan population.

To clarify, are you envisaging Hamas remaining, and do you think this would be a reasonable outcome?

Netanyahu wants Hamas to be destroyed and the hostages to be released and that does not seem to be unreasonable either. Does that seem unreasonable to you?

Unfortunately, the 2 sides are still miles apart and so we will just resume more of the same thing we have seen since March.

Hamas had the opportunity to agree to a ceasefire that would enable plenty of aid into the region. Yes it was temporary and not the permanent ceasefire they wanted but the US proposal wasn't perfect for Israel either. It could have meant a stop to the fighting while further negotiations took place.

It’s pretty reminiscent of the Arab refusals to agree on a two state solution over the last 77 years. No, No and No.

They don’t actually want peace, or the war to stop (funnily enough exactly what pro-Palestinians say about Netanyahu), because they are toast and the UN backed gravy train built on the manufactured suffering of a horrifically abused and indoctrinated people will eventually have to stop.

@Sofiewoo It's ridiculous that you would lecture me about my viewpoint not being one "that actually wants peace".

How much peace do you think the people of Gaza are going to have now?

There are going to be many more deaths as a direct result of Hamas not accepting this ceasefire plan. But sure, go ahead and defend them.

I'm not sure permanent was used or alluded to, ceasefire was mentioned.

Any ceasefire means lives will be saved and the potential to continue longer. Hamas really don't want to save anybody do they. They appear quite happy to continue this conflict.