Hamas announced Saturday on that it is seeking amendments to a U.S.-backed temporary ceasefire agreement with Israel, prompting a sharp rejection from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who labeled the group’s response on X as “totally unacceptable.” While calling its reply “positive,” Hamas reiterated key demands—including a permanent end to the war and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza—conditions Israel has repeatedly refused to meet.
Key Demands from Hamas
According to Reuters, Hamas is requesting:
- A permanent ceasefire
- Full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip
- Unrestricted movement through the Rafah crossing
- Resumption and broader distribution of goods and humanitarian aid deliveries
- Rebuilding of essential infrastructure including hospitals, schools, and sanitation systems
- The proposed deal, backed by Egypt and Qatar, envisions U.N. and Red Crescent oversight for aid delivery and reconstruction efforts. It also states that President Trump will personally announce the ceasefire if both sides agree.
In exchange, Hamas offered to release 10 living Israeli hostages and return the bodies of 18 others, while seeking a phased exchange involving over 1,200 Palestinian prisoners.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis
Israel and U.S. Reactions to Changes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel had already agreed to the ceasefire framework put forth by Witkoff, but accused Hamas of obstructing progress. “Israel will continue its action for the return of our hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” he said. Israel has consistently opposed Hamas’ demands, calling instead for the group’s full disarmament, the dismantling of its military and political structures, and the release of all 58 hostages still held in Gaza.
President Trump expressed on Friday that he believes a ceasefire agreement was close after the recent proposals, as Israel had reportedly agreed to the terms resented by the 60-day ceasefire plan. Witkoff, speaking on behalf of President Trump’s administration, posted on X, “It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward. Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks.”
Ongoing Violence Continues Despite Ceasefire Talks
A screengrab shows according to the Israeli Army, Hamas Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar, taken from a handout video, released December 17, 2023. Israeli Army/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Despite truce efforts, Israel confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas’ Gaza chief and brother of the late Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the October 2023 attacks. The Israeli military said he was killed in a strike on a southern Gaza hospital on May 13.
Israel has resumed its military campaign since March, clearing areas along the Gaza Strip’s boundaries and compressing the population into smaller zones. The renewed offensive has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, devastated much of Gaza’s infrastructure, and pushed over two million residents into increasingly confined areas, particularly around Khan Younis.
Since March, Israel has intensified its military campaign following a two-month truce, targeting Hamas facilities and leadership. The military claims to have eliminated the head of a weapons manufacturing site and several sniper positions in recent days.
FILE PHOTO: Supplies wait to be loaded on trucks to go into the Gaza Strip, at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, on its Israeli side, May 29, 2025. REUTERS/Shafiek Tassiem/File Photo
Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies entering Gaza in March, aiming to weaken Hamas. However, the humanitarian consequences have drawn international condemnation. On Saturday, aid groups reported that dozens of World Food Programme trucks carrying flour were hijacked and looted amid widespread hunger; meanwhile on Sunday dozens where reported injured and killed while en route to aid distribution point.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. relief agency for Palestinians, said in a message on X. “The aid that’s being sent now makes a mockery of the mass tragedy unfolding under our watch.”
Israel denies accusations of using starvation as a tactic, highlighting its support for new U.S.-backed distribution centers and continued entry of some aid trucks. Israeli officials instead blame Hamas for misappropriating humanitarian supplies to maintain control over Gaza, a claim Hamas denies
Humanitarian Crisis Escalates in Gaza
Meanwhile, conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate. Following nearly 80 days of a total blockade, the U.N. warns that the entire population of Gaza is at risk of famine. Aid trucks have been looted, and widespread hunger has driven civilians to desperate measures. As talks continue, the humanitarian toll deepens, and international pressure mounts on all parties to reach a resolution before famine and further violence claim more lives.
