The new ‘Witkoff deal’ is close to agreement, according to the U.S. President despite Hamas’ restraints.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Friday that Israel and Hamas are at a striking distance from reaching a temporary ceasefire, in a deal that will be guaranteed by mediators Qatar and Egypt alongside the U.S.
“They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza,” Trump said during a joint press address at the White House with Elon Musk. “We’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow. And we have a chance of that.”
The recent American push comes after Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff tabled a proposal which includes a 60-day initial ceasefire. The White House has maintained that the bid has been ticked off by Israel.
Hamas said it is reviewing the new proposal, which fails to meet the basic criteria of halting the attacks and heavily favours the Israeli side, according to the Palestinian resistance group.
“It [the deal] fails to meet any of the just and legitimate demands of our people, among them an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza,” senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters news agency.
“Despite this, and in full awareness of the gravity of the ongoing genocide against our people, Hamas leadership is currently undertaking a thorough and responsible review of the new proposal.”
The proposed agreement sees 28 Israeli captives, 10 living and 18 deceased, released within the first week, in exchange for 1,291 Palestinian prisoners. Israel, according to the proposal, is also required to hand over 180 Palestinian bodies, most of them taken from the Gaza Strip. Aid is to be allowed in immediately once the agreement comes into effect.o effect.
The plan will be guaranteed by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt — same mediators that brokered the January ceasefire, which saw a temporary pause in Israeli attacks.
The fragile deal, however, did not go beyond its first phase as Israel unilaterally violated the agreement by resuming its genocide on Gaza. It also imposed a complete blockade on the beseiged strip since March 2, pushing some 2.1 million people to the brink of a deadly famine.
Although some aid trickled in recently, various international bodies have repeatedly condemned Israel’s weaponisation of aid, calling it “one of the most obstructed aid operations in recent history“.
Footage from Israel and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)’s distribution point in Rafah recently showed Israeli forces firing at a large aid-seeking crowd surrounded by fences.
The recent developments come amidst a dire backdrop of killings and Israel’s intensified activities in the West Bank.
According to the local health ministry, more than 61,700 people have already lost their lives to Israeli attacks in Gaza. The numbers are expected to significantly rise with thousands still believed to trapped under the rubble amid continuous Israeli strikes which have heavily targeted civilian infrastructures, including hospitals.
Similarly, Israel also recently approved the construction of 22 new settlements in the West Bank, furthering its occupation against International law. It has also continued targeting Palestinians as well as intensified raids in the occupied territories.
Qatar on Friday released a statement condemning the latest decision and called on the international community to take a stance, calling it a “blatant violation of international legitimacy” and a “flagrant infringement on the rights of Palestinians”.
“The Ministry [of Foreign Affairs] reaffirms Qatar’s firm and unwavering position in support of the Palestinian cause and the resilience of the brotherly Palestinian people, based on international legitimacy and the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders,” the statement added.
