Hamas said on Saturday it had officially responded to a ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who represents President Donald Trump in Middle East diplomacy. The group said its reply includes a key demand: a complete end to the war.
According to Hamas, the deal proposes a prisoner exchange—ten living hostages and 18 bodies for a yet-unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. The statement echoed Witkoff’s earlier framework, which Israeli media reported had already been accepted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The group said its stance was reached after “a round of national consultations.” The response stops short of demanding changes to the proposal, though a Palestinian official told Reuters that minor amendments were sought, while the overall reply remains positive.
The Israeli prime minister’s office has not commented publicly on Hamas’s response. But earlier this week, Netanyahu reportedly told hostage families that Israel had accepted the deal.
Previous efforts to halt fighting in Gaza have failed due to deep disagreements. Israel demands Hamas disarm and release all 58 remaining hostages before any ceasefire. Hamas rejects those terms and insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war.
The coming days will test whether this proposal breaks the deadlock, or becomes another stalled attempt.
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Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
A six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-held Ukrainian town of Oleshky ended on Sunday, 1 November, after facilitating aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as Central Asia’s fastest-growing economy, fuelled by a construction boom, public investment and trade linked to Russia. But with Western sanctions tightening, can the country sustain its rapid growth?
Russia airstrikes on a school used as a humanitarian aid distribution point in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 26 people, including rescue workers and police officers, Ukrainian officials said. Another 27 people were reported missing.
A new book examining Azerbaijan’s military strategy, technology and operations during the Garabagh wars has been unveiled in Baku, offering insights into the country’s victories and lessons for modern warfare.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Tajikistan has banned electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery systems, becoming the latest Central Asian country to outlaw their production, import and sale as part of a wider push to protect public health.
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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the government plans to publish a draft of the country's new constitution in November, with public consultations to follow, as constitutional reforms remain a key issue in efforts to secure a final peace agreement with Azerbaijan.
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