Witkoff dismisses Hamas’s demand for 7-year ceasefire as ‘totally unacceptable’

Hamas described its demands as part of a “new Witkoff framework” that “seeks a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people in the Strip.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff declared on Twitter/X on Saturday that Hamas’s response to his hostage release and truce proposals was “totally unacceptable and only takes us backward.”

He added, “Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.”

“That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days in which half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased will come home to their families and in which we can have at the proximity talks substantive negotiations in good faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire,” Witkoff said.

On Friday night, US President Donald Trump stated that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal would be announced in the next few days.

However, an anonymous Israeli official said Jerusalem considers Hamas’s response to the Witkoff proposal as an “effective rejection,” because of its numerous demands.

The proposal calls for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies of deceased captives during 60 days.

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he approved of the proposal, Hamas demanded changes in the agreement that would make it more difficult for Israel to resume the war after 60 days.

On Saturday, Hamas announced new demands, including a ceasefire that would last seven years, a complete withdrawal of IDF troops from areas captured in Gaza, and the cancellation of the new humanitarian aid mechanism set up by the United States and coordination with Israel, resulting in a return to the distributing aid through Hamas.

Hamas described their demands as part of a “new Witkoff framework” that “seeks a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people in the Strip.”

According to Egypt’s Al-Ghad news channel, Hamas stipulated that four hostages would be released on the first day, two on the 30th day, and four on the 60th day. Eighteen bodies of deceased hostages would be returned to Israel on the 10th, 30th, and 50th days.

Hamas said it would return the Israeli hostages in exchange for an “agreed upon number of Palestinian prisoners.”