Israel Accepts Trump’s Envoy’s New Gaza Truce Proposal, Confirms Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated, as reported by Reuters from Israeli media, that Israel has agreed to a new ceasefire plan provided by a US peace envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

Hamas officials reported that they have received the plan from the mediators and are currently reviewing the plan.

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In Witkoff's earlier comments, he said he remained cautiously optimistic that he could help facilitate an agreement that would lead to an end to the conflict and the release of more hostages taken by Hamas during the first assault.

"I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution — a temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution of that conflict," Steve Witkoff said in Washington on Wednesday.

What is Witkoff's ceasefire proposal?

Although Witkoff has not announced what his plan contained, a Hamas official and an Egyptian official independently confirmed parts of the plan to the Associated Press.

The unnamed officials who spoke to the AP reported the plan, which would be subject to further negotiation, included provisions for a 60-day withholding of violence, commitments to a serious negotiation process that would reach a long term ceasefire agreement, and assurances that even after hostages were released, Israel would not launch new attacks as it did in March after an initial ceasefire period.

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Finally, the unnamed officials stated as a part of the proposal, the Israeli Defense Force would withdraw to its previous positions prior to the first ceasefire agreement.

In contrast, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and a number of bodies during the 60-day suspension in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinians in Israeli jails, including 100 long sentences for those convicted of attacks that led to deaths.

Israel has committed to restoring order in Gaza and will continue to act on its goals until Hamas is dead, disarmed or exiled and until the Hamas returns the remaining 58 hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that started the conflict.

Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 people hostage in their attack. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed approximately 54,000 Palestinians according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, according to the Associated Press.

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