In the years since the conflict between Israel and Hamas reignited, headlines have repeatedly surfaced stating Hamas had accepted a ceasefire deal, only for Israel to reject it. Most recently, a report on Monday, May 26, cited a Palestinian official saying Hamas is open to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal in Gaza.
However, a U.S. official has since denied that notion, saying the deal Hamas agreed to is not only “unacceptable” and “disappointing” but it’s not from Washington, according to Reuters.
What ceasefire deal is Hamas agreeing to?
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a ceasefire deal but said Hamas did not accept his offer. Witkoff also emphasized that what Hamas is suggesting is impossible for the Israeli government to agree to.
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Hamas’ ranks are believed to have been reduced from 25,000 prior to Oct. 7, 2023, to roughly 17,000 in Feb. 2025, according to the ODNI.
Reports surfaced claiming Hamas agreed to a U.S.-linked proposal for a 70-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages. Witkoff refuted Hamas’ claims, stating that the proposal they referenced did not originate from the U.S. and that no new offer had been made.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only consider a temporary pause if Hamas released all remaining hostages and Israel eliminated Hamas.
According to Axios, Netanyahu, in a social media post, said he hoped to deliver an update on developments regarding the Israel-Hamas war “today,” adding, “if not today then we will tomorrow.”
What did the US suggest?
The U.S. proposal called for a 45- to 60-day ceasefire, with the release of 10 live hostages and 19 deceased. According to Axios, Witkoff said Israel was in agreement with his proposal because it would “lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to permanent ceasefire,” which Witkoff “agreed to preside over.”
Under the U.S. proposal, Israel would release Palestinians detained during the war and allow efforts to stabilize security conditions in the Gaza Strip.
“That deal is on the table,” Witkoff said. “Hamas should take it.”
Impacts of the war in Gaza
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023. Meanwhile, according to UNRWA, the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency, 1.9 million people, or more than 85% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced since the start of the war.
A joint assessment by 16 U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations indicates nearly 2 million people in Gaza are facing food insecurity, with 345,000 individuals experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger. The World Food Programme (WFP) warns that the risk of famine will persist unless fighting ends and humanitarian aid reaches families.
