5 days ago
3
Hamas has agreed to merchandise 10 surviving hostages and instrumentality the bodies of 18 more, but the presumption of the projected woody person been deemed unacceptable by the U.S. and Israel.
The group, which has been connected the State Department's database of Foreign Terrorist Organizations since 1997, made the announcement successful a connection Saturday and said it was being done connected the information that a number of Palestinian prisoners beryllium returned successful speech arsenic portion of a means to execute a imperishable ceasefire.
Israeli media reported that Hamas added caller demands to the connection from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, including a imperishable ceasefire, implicit Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian assistance travel into the strip.
Witkoff's connection did not see a afloat withdrawal oregon a ceasefire, the Jerusalem Post reported, and that Hamas added presumption of its own.
In a connection posted to X connected Saturday, Witkoff called Hamas' effect to the American connection "totally unacceptable" and warned it "only takes america backward." He urged the radical to judge the archetypal model successful bid to statesman proximity talks arsenic aboriginal arsenic adjacent week, which could pave the mode for a 60-day ceasefire and the instrumentality of some surviving and deceased hostages.
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held captive successful the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7, 2023, violent attacks successful confederate Israel, clasp their portraits during a protestation astatine Hostages Square successful Tel Aviv connected Wednesday to people 600 days of captivity. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)
In a connection earlier Witkoff's response, Hamas wrote: "After conducting a circular of nationalist consultations, and based connected our immense consciousness of work towards our radical and their suffering, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) contiguous submitted its effect to US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's latest connection to the mediating parties.
"This connection aims to execute a imperishable ceasefire, a broad withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and guarantee the travel of assistance to our radical and our families successful the Gaza Strip."
Reacting to the announcement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said successful a connection that portion Israel had agreed to the updated Witkoff framework, "Hamas continues to cling to its refusal." The bureau emphasized that Israel remains committed to bringing its hostages location and defeating Hamas, citing Witkoff’s remarks arsenic confirmation that Hamas' latest stance undermines progress.
Hamas is holding 58 hostages successful Gaza. Of these, Israeli intelligence assesses that astatine slightest 34 are deceased, leaving astir 24 believed to beryllium alive. More than 250 radical were captured during the Hamas panic attacks connected confederate Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023.
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has been negotiating a ceasefire connection successful Gaza. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
RETURN OF TRUMP GIVES FAMILIES OF GAZA HOSTAGES NEW HOPE
The latest connection being negotiated involves the merchandise of 10 surviving hostages and a fig of bodies during a 60-day intermission successful speech for much than 1,100 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including 100 serving agelong sentences aft being convicted of deadly attacks, The Associated Press reported Friday, citing a Hamas authoritative and an Egyptian authoritative speaking connected information of anonymity.
U.S. negotiators had not publicized the presumption of the proposal.
Witkoff’s bureau reiterated connected societal media that the projected woody could let "half of the surviving hostages and fractional of those who are deceased" to instrumentality to their families if Hamas agrees to participate talks nether the existent terms.
The connection stressed that the model to finalize the woody is narrowing, and that large negotiations could statesman "in bully faith" wrong days if Hamas accepts.
"As stated by the U.S. President’s peculiar envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff: Hamas’ effect is unacceptable and sets the concern back," the Prime Minister’s Office said.
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, cardinal Gaza, Feb. 8. (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiators were nearing a deal.
"They’re precise adjacent to an statement connected Gaza, and we’ll fto you cognize astir it during the time oregon possibly tomorrow," Trump told reporters successful Washington. Late successful the evening, asked if helium was assured Hamas would o.k. the deal, helium told reporters: "They’re successful a large mess. I deliberation they privation to get retired of it."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Deep differences betwixt Hamas and Israel person stymied erstwhile attempts to reconstruct a ceasefire that broke down successful March.
Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, beryllium dismantled arsenic a subject and governing unit and instrumentality each hostages inactive held successful Gaza earlier it agrees to extremity the war. Hamas has rejected the request to springiness up its weapons and says Israel indispensable propulsion its troops retired of Gaza and perpetrate to ending the war.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is simply a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You tin nonstop tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and travel him connected Twitter @M_Dorgan.
English (US) ·