Hamas Responds to US Gaza Truce Proposal, But Trump Envoy Rejects It as "Totally Unacceptable"

 Jerusalem, June 1, 2025, 09:18 AM IST – Efforts to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict faced a significant setback today as Hamas responded to a US-proposed truce plan, only for the Trump administration’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, to swiftly reject the response as “totally unacceptable.” The rejection underscores the persistent challenges in reaching an agreement between the conflicting parties, with key differences emerging over the truce duration and Israeli troop withdrawal.

Steve Witkoff

Witkoff, the US envoy overseeing negotiations, expressed his frustration in a post on X, stating, “I received the Hamas response to the United States’ proposal. It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward. Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.” The US proposal, which Israel had previously agreed to, outlined a 60-day truce, the release of half the living hostages and half the bodies of deceased hostages, and a resumption of UN-led aid distribution in Gaza.

Earlier today, Hamas issued a statement detailing its response to the US plan, emphasizing its priorities. The group, designated as a terrorist organization by the US, EU, and several other countries, said it sought “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 Strip.” As part of the proposed deal, Hamas offered to release 10 living Israeli prisoners and return 18 bodies in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. However, the group did not explicitly confirm its acceptance of the US proposal, instead suggesting modifications.

According to the Associated Press, which cited an unnamed official, the primary sticking points between the US proposal and Hamas’s response center on the duration of the truce, the timeline and extent of Israeli troop withdrawal, the schedule for hostage releases, and the logistics of aid delivery. Hamas has long demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel insists that Hamas disarm and dissolve as a precondition for any new agreement—a demand Hamas has consistently rejected.

The current impasse follows the collapse of a previous ceasefire in mid-March 2025, after which negotiations have repeatedly stalled. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with aid distribution severely hampered and civilian casualties mounting. The US proposal aimed to address some of these issues by involving the United Nations in resuming aid efforts, but Hamas’s insistence on a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal has complicated the talks.

The rejection by Witkoff signals a challenging road ahead for ceasefire negotiations, with both sides holding firm on their core demands. As the conflict continues to take a toll on Gaza’s population, the international community remains under pressure to find a viable path to peace, even as diplomatic efforts falter on this significant day of June 1, 2025.