Israel No ceasefire in Gaza for the time being - mutual accusations
Hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas have been dashed for the time being. Although the terrorist organization agreed to release some hostages in its response to a proposal by US mediator Steve Witkoff for a ceasefire, it set further conditions. The USA and Israel promptly rejected Hamas' response. It was "completely unacceptable", wrote Witkoff on X. Israel will continue its efforts to return the hostages and defeat Hamas, explained the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
01.06.2025, 03:56
SDA
Hamas must accept the current proposal for a ceasefire, initially limited to 60 days, after which further talks towards a permanent end to the war would be possible as early as next week, Witkoff continued. However, the plan does not include a guarantee for the final cessation of hostilities - although this has been a key demand of Hamas to date. The Islamists are apparently sticking to this. "Guarantees against the resumption of aggression" were sent to Witkoff as part of the response, the dpa news agency learned from Hamas circles.
Hamas sets further conditions
The US proposal provides for the release of 10 hostages from the Gaza Strip and the handover of the mortal remains of 18 other abductees. In return, Palestinian prisoners are to be released from Israeli prisons. Hamas is willing to agree to this core of the proposal. At the same time, however, the terrorist organization is imposing further conditions.
For example, the Islamists are demanding a longer timeframe for the release of hostages than is envisaged in Witkoff's plan, as dpa has learned from circles within the terrorist organization. This change is intended to prevent Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu from breaking off talks on a permanent ceasefire after the first ten hostages have been released, as he did during the previous ceasefire in January, reported the Times of Israel, citing a source involved in the talks.
Islamists want a guarantee for the end of the war
The Islamist organization also wants Israel's military to withdraw to a greater extent from the sealed-off Gaza Strip after the ceasefire comes into force, as dpa also learned from Hamas circles. The terrorist organization also wanted to stipulate that if no agreement on a permanent ceasefire is reached within 60 days, the temporary ceasefire will be automatically extended indefinitely, the US news site "Axios" quoted an informed source as saying.
The main point of contention, however, is the Islamists' demand for guarantees from the USA to end the war, Axios reported. The Israeli government of Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, strictly rejects a ceasefire that would put an end to the war. Critics accuse it of wanting to continue the war in the Gaza Strip indefinitely for domestic political reasons.
Senior Hamas representative Basem Naim emphasized in a statement that Witkoff's proposal had not been rejected. Rather, Israel's reaction to the US proposal was not compatible with what Hamas had agreed to. Witkoff's attitude towards the Palestinian organization was unfair and showed a "complete bias" towards Israel.
Netanyahu: Hamas' response is a step backwards
On Friday, US President Donald Trump had raised hopes of a ceasefire in the near future. The warring parties are very close to an agreement, Trump told journalists at the White House. There is a chance. What happens next remains to be seen. As Witkoff explained, Hamas' response was "completely unacceptable and a step backwards", Netanyahu's office announced.
While Israel has agreed to Witkoff's proposal for the release of the hostages, Hamas is sticking to its refusal, it said. Israel assumes that there are currently 20 to 23 living hostages and at least 35 bodies of abductees still in the hands of the terrorist organization.
Criticism of Israel's actions
The war was triggered by the attack on Israel by Hamas and other Islamist terrorists on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage in Gaza. Since then, Israel's military has been fighting against Hamas in the coastal area, which has since been extensively destroyed. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 54,200 Palestinians have already been killed. The authority's figures do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Recently, Israel's army launched a new major offensive. Since then, dozens of deaths have been reported every day. Israel's declared aim is to completely crush Hamas and free the remaining hostages. In view of the many deaths and the catastrophic humanitarian situation of the civilian population in Gaza, Israel's military action has been heavily criticized at home and abroad.
