According to Al Jazeera’s sources, Hamas has consented to the United States’ request for a ceasefire, but an American official rejected it and called the deal being discussed “unacceptable” and “disappointing.”
Israeli officials added that no Israeli government could accept the proposal, according to the Reuters news agency, who denied the report on Monday.
The conflicting reports came as Israeli forces continued to bombard Gaza’s besieged enclave with vicious fire and severely restrict the entry of aid.
According to medical sources, at least 81 people were killed in Israel’s attacks on Monday alone, many of whom were children.
According to Al Jazeera’s sources, Hamas and Steve Witkoff, the US’s Middle East envoy, met in Doha, Qatar, and agreed to the draft agreement. They claimed that the agreement includes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 captives who were detained in Gaza in two stages.
The terms of the agreement and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza would be guaranteed by US President Donald Trump. According to the sources, the agreement would permit the entry of humanitarian aid without conditions starting with the agreement.
Witkoff, however, disputed the claim that Hamas had accepted his offer for a captcha and truce, telling Reuters that what he had witnessed was “completely unacceptable”.
Additionally, a US source close to Witkoff claimed that the Palestinian group’s agreement was “disappointing” and Hamas’ claims were “inaccurate.”
new red lines
The US official, who was cited by Al Jazeera as saying that the proposed “temporary ceasefire agreement” with Israel is the only one at hand, according to Kimberly Halkett of Al Jazeera’s reporting from Washington, DC.
She said that this would allow for the return of half of the dead and half of the living captives.
The White House believes that this would lead to diplomatic discussions that could lead to a permanent ceasefire. She continued, “And this is the deal that Hamas should take,” according to the source.
Hamas did not respond right away.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to bring back the 58 Israeli prisoners who are still incarcerated in Gaza, of whom 20 are reportedly still alive, in a recorded message posted on social media.
“We will achieve it tomorrow if we don’t today, but tomorrow we will do it,” he says. If not tomorrow, follow that day. Netanyahu stated, “We are not giving up.”
The living and the dead will all be returned, he continued.
The proposed agreement was not mentioned by the Israeli leader.
Netanyahu has long vowed to keep the war until “total victory” is achieved against the Palestinian group, according to Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, a reporter from Amman’s capital.
Salhut claimed that the Israeli premier has even drawn new conclusions about what would ultimately bring an end to the conflict.
“That includes the return of Israeli prisoners, the demilitarization of Hamas,” according to the exile of military and political leaders. Additionally, Trump’s plan for Gaza is being implemented. The White House even reversed its decision several months ago because of this plan, she said.
Netanyahu claims that is what he needs in order for the war to end.
Hamas has also stated that it is willing to immediately release the prisoners in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. In accordance with an Arab League-backed $53 billion plan for the reconstruction of the enclave, it has also stated that it is willing to hand over control of the Gaza Strip to an interim government.
However, the Palestinian organization has vowed to release its leaders from Gaza, saying that as long as Israel continues to occupy Palestinian territory, they must lay down arms or expel them.
“Doha is everything!”
Palestinians in Gaza expressed apprehension over any agreement to end Israel’s relentless bombardment and blockade, which has resulted in famine for the entire population.
From Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary said, “All Palestinian eyes are on Doha.”
Palestinians have been attacked in their homes, schools, makeshift tents, and also in so-called safe humanitarian zones, according to Khoudary, who claims that they are unable to even provide one meal for their families since Israel resumed the war.
“Palestinians here are saying that they have no other choices and that they are attempting to survive the Israeli airstrikes and the widespread starvation that has been theirs.”
Two weeks after putting a total blockade on the enclave, Israel resumed its occupation of Gaza on March 18.
According to Gaza’s health authorities, at least 3, 822 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s renewed offensive, and 53, 977 people have already died overall. Some 122, 966 people have been wounded.
