WASHINGTON — The United States said Thursday that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire proposal in Gaza, but Hamas responded cautiously, indicating that the plan falls short of its key demands. The announcement marks a potential breakthrough in stalled negotiations, but deep divisions between the two sides continue to threaten a resolution to the months-long war.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Israel has signed off on the proposal, which was delivered by President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. The details of the plan have not been publicly disclosed, but The New York Times reported that the first phase would include a 60-day ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian aid through U.N.-managed channels.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs Gaza, confirmed it is reviewing the proposal but signaled dissatisfaction. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that the plan “echoes Israel’s position” and does not meet Hamas’s demands for a complete end to the war, Israeli troop withdrawal, or unhindered entry of humanitarian aid.
Abu Zuhri’s comments underline the stalemate that has derailed earlier attempts at a ceasefire since the collapse of a two-month truce in March. Israel continues to demand that Hamas disarm entirely, dismantle its governing structures, and return all 58 remaining hostages. Hamas has repeatedly rejected any condition that includes surrendering its weapons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not officially confirmed Israel’s approval of the deal, though Israeli media reported that he informed families of hostages about the decision. The reports come amid growing international pressure on Israel to curb its military offensive and allow more humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
The diplomatic movement comes as a U.S.-backed initiative to deliver food aid expanded to a third site inside Gaza on Thursday. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a private organization supported by the U.S. and approved by Israel — has so far distributed 1.8 million meals despite a rocky launch earlier in the week.
The operation began under difficult conditions, with chaotic scenes on Tuesday as thousands of desperate Palestinians overwhelmed distribution points, forcing private security contractors to withdraw. Aid agencies and the United Nations have criticized the effort as inadequate and poorly executed, emphasizing that 2 million people in Gaza remain at risk of famine due to Israel’s 11-week blockade on humanitarian aid.
Envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters Wednesday that the U.S. is nearing the release of a new term sheet for both sides, expressing optimism about the potential for a temporary ceasefire leading to a long-term peaceful resolution. “I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution,” Witkoff said.
The war, now in its eighth month, was triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage, according to Israeli estimates. In response, Israel launched a devastating campaign in Gaza that has, according to Gaza health officials, killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and reduced much of the enclave to rubble.
As images of destruction and famine continue to circulate, international criticism of Israel has intensified, including from European nations that have traditionally been reluctant to challenge its military actions. The latest ceasefire plan could mark a turning point, but only if both sides are willing to compromise — a prospect that remains uncertain.
Reuters
