TEL AVIV, Israel — In a significant development in the ongoing Gaza conflict, Hamas is pursuing amendments to the latest ceasefire proposal put forth by the United States, according to a senior official from the group. This news comes as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff publicly labeled Hamas's response as "totally unacceptable." As the fighting approaches a staggering 20 months, desperation is mounting among the Palestinian population, particularly among those affected by hunger and the families of hostages held in Gaza.
The Hamas official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, indicated that the proposed amendments focus on several critical areas. These include U.S. guarantees, the timing of the release of hostages, the logistics of delivering humanitarian aid, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. While specific details of the amendments were not disclosed, a separate statement from Hamas emphasized its desire for a permanent ceasefire, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a reliable flow of aid into the region.
According to Hamas, the group is willing to release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in exchange for a mutually agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. Currently, there are 58 hostages believed to still be alive, with Israel estimating that 35 of the captured individuals have perished. Witkoff has proposed a 60-day ceasefire that would involve the release of half of the living hostages in Gaza and the return of half of those who have died, urging Hamas to consider this framework as a starting point for negotiations that could take place as early as next week.
Israeli officials have shown support for the U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire, while U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that negotiators are nearing a potential deal. However, Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, accused Israel of reneging on previously agreed-upon provisions, claiming a significant bias that undermines the fairness of the mediation process.
As negotiations continue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) reported that civilians have resorted to blocking and offloading 77 food trucks due to increasing hunger caused by Israel's prolonged blockade. A witness in Khan Younis described how thousands of desperate civilians halted a U.N. convoy, emphasizing the severity of the crisis. The ongoing blockade has pushed Gaza's population of over 2 million people to the brink of famine.
While Israel has permitted some aid to enter Gaza in recent days, aid organizations assert that the volume is far from sufficient to meet the urgent needs of the population. The Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid in Gaza, known as COGAT, reported that 579 trucks of aid have entered over the past week. In contrast, the U.N. previously reported that up to 600 trucks per day were able to enter during earlier ceasefires before the renewed bombardment.
The WFP has expressed that the fear of starvation in Gaza is escalating. The organization stated, "We need to flood communities with food for the next few days to calm anxieties," and noted that it has over 140,000 metric tons of food prepared for delivery. However, the U.N. has faced numerous challenges in distributing aid, including security incidents and attacks by armed gangs in areas controlled by Israel's military.
An internal document shared with aid groups revealed multiple incidents of looting at aid distribution facilities, underscoring the difficulties faced by humanitarian organizations. Meanwhile, a new U.S.- and Israeli-backed foundation has commenced operations in Gaza, aiming to distribute food at various locations. Israel claims that this new mechanism is essential, accusing Hamas of diverting significant amounts of aid. The U.N. has denied these allegations of aid diversion.
Despite ongoing negotiations, violence continues unabated in Gaza. Israeli military operations have resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting at least 60 fatalities from Israeli airstrikes within a 24-hour period. Among the dead are parents and their child, as well as individuals struck in their vehicles. The war, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Gaza residents, predominantly women and children, according to the Health Ministry's reports.
As the conflict endures, families of hostages have reiterated their calls for a comprehensive ceasefire that would secure the release of all remaining hostages, expressing fears that continued military pressure could jeopardize their loved ones' survival.
