Hamas Responds To U.S. Ceasefire Offer: Demands For Permanent End To War

In a cautious shift amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Hamas has responded to a ceasefire framework advanced by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The response, while broadly aligned with the proposed terms, introduces new conditions that reflect the Palestinian group’s core demands: an end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal, and sustained humanitarian access.

"This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip," The Palestinian group said in a statement.

The deal, initially tabled by Washington in coordination with Qatar and Egypt, outlined a 60-day truce. In return for the release of ten living Israeli captives and the remains of eighteen more, Hamas would see over a thousand Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli prisons.

Hamas issued a statement calling the proposal a step toward "a permanent ceasefire and the complete removal of Israeli forces from the Strip.” It claimed to have conducted internal consultations before delivering its reply to intermediaries. While the public statement did not explicitly request changes, Palestinian officials familiar with the process said that Hamas is pushing for a phased hostage release and greater clarity on post-war reconstruction and sovereignty.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff rejected Hamas’s amended response, calling it “disappointing” and counterproductive. He argued that the group’s latest terms derail progress and fail to meet the international community's expectations for a pragmatic, enforceable truce.

Israel has not officially commented, but multiple media reports suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office is open to the U.S.-drafted terms. That said, Israeli officials remain firm on key points: the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities, the unconditional return of all hostages, and an end to Hamas’s governing role in Gaza.

This diplomatic back-and-forth comes after months of failed ceasefire efforts and worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The war reignited after Hamas launched a surprise assault into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and capturing over 250 hostages. Since then, Israeli air and ground operations have killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The United Nations has warned that Gaza is facing widespread famine, with food and aid deliveries repeatedly obstructed. UN officials have described the besieged enclave as one of the most desperate humanitarian zones in the world today.

Despite renewed international attention and mounting pressure on both sides, the prospects for a durable ceasefire remain uncertain. While the U.S. and its allies try to hold the diplomatic line, the political distance between Hamas and the Israeli government shows little sign of narrowing.