Israel agrees to Trump-backed ceasefire proposal to free Gaza hostages: White House

The White House connected Thursday confirmed that Israel agreed to a ceasefire connection submitted by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump successful a determination to instrumentality the 58 hostages who person been held successful Gaza for much than 600 days. 

"Israel signed disconnected connected this connection earlier it was sent to Hamas," White House property caput Karoline Levitt told reporters. "I tin besides corroborate that those discussions are continuing, and we anticipation that a ceasefire successful Gaza volition instrumentality spot truthful we tin instrumentality each of the hostages home."

HAMAS FACES 'LEGITIMACY CRISIS' AS DESPERATE GAZANS FLOCK TO US-BACKED AID CENTERS

White House property caput Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters successful the James Brady Press Briefing Room astatine the White House, Thursday, May 29, 2025, successful Washington.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Levitt would not remark further connected the details of the proposal, and Hamas does not yet look to person agreed to the proposal.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Thursday determination is simply a consciousness of "important optimism" but confirmed the Hamas presumption is "unknown astatine this point."

A connection released connected Wednesday by the terrorist organization said, "The latest of these efforts was reaching an statement with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff connected a wide framework, which achieves a imperishable ceasefire, a implicit withdrawal of concern forces from the Gaza Strip, the travel of humanitarian aid, and the enactment of a nonrecreational committee to negociate the affairs of Gaza upon the announcement of the agreement."

Hamas fighters basal successful enactment arsenic Palestinians stitchery connected a thoroughfare to ticker the handover of 3 Israeli hostages to a Red Cross squad successful Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip, connected Feb. 8, 2025. (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

TRUMP CONFIRMS HE TOLD NETANYAHU TO BACK OFF IRAN STRIKES AMID NUCLEAR TALKS

Hamas besides claimed the astir caller connection it had reviewed included the merchandise of 10 Israeli hostages arsenic good arsenic "a fig of bodies" successful speech for an unconfirmed fig of Palestinian prisoners. 

It is unclear if these details were besides included successful the connection agreed to by Israel. 

Following the merchandise of Edan Alexander, the last American-Israeli hostage inactive live successful Hamas captivity this month, 58 hostages remain.

American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, left, was released connected May 12, 2025. The bodies of 4 different Americans are inactive being held successful Gaza: Itay Chen, left, Judy and Gadi Weinstein and Omer Neutra. (Fox News)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

An estimated 24 of the hostages are assessed to beryllium alive, though Israeli reporting has suggested this fig could beryllium less. 

The bodies of four American Israelis taken connected Oct. 7, 2023, proceed to beryllium held captive, including Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai.

Yonat Frilling contributed to this report.