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.
‘We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the peace plan for Gaza is put into action as soon as possible and that this humanitarian t...
A giant Christmas tree adorned with red and gold baubles stands in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for the first time since 2022....
On 5 December 2025, residents of Hama filled the streets, balconies, rooftops, main squares, waving flags and chanting slogans, celebrating the first ...
At least 11 people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed when gunfire erupted at an illegal bar in Pretoria, with police launching a manhunt fo...
‘We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the peace plan for Gaza is put into action as soon as possible and that this humanitarian tragedy comes to an end,’ Turkish top diplomat Fidan tells Anadolu
A giant Christmas tree adorned with red and gold baubles stands in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for the first time since 2022.
On 5 December 2025, residents of Hama filled the streets, balconies, rooftops, main squares, waving flags and chanting slogans, celebrating the first anniversary of the departure of forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad.
At least 11 people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed when gunfire erupted at an illegal bar in Pretoria, with police launching a manhunt for three unidentified suspects.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for its support of the claims by United Arab Emirates on three Iranian islands.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
The United States plans to extend its travel ban to over 30 countries, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Thursday.
A giant Christmas tree adorned with red and gold baubles stands in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for the first time since 2022.
On 5 December 2025, residents of Hama filled the streets, balconies, rooftops, main squares, waving flags and chanting slogans, celebrating the first anniversary of the departure of forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad.
President of the United States of America Donald Trump has sent a letter of gratitude to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 23rd Doha Forum in Qatar, aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment