Steve Witkoff delivered a new U.S. ceasefire plan through backchannels, securing Israeli approval while Hamas signaled conditional readiness to negotiate.
At a Glance
- White House envoy Steve Witkoff sent a ceasefire-hostage deal to Hamas via Israeli intermediaries.
- Israel formally accepted the U.S. plan as a path to a comprehensive ceasefire.
- Hamas said it is ready to negotiate but linked talks to broader political demands.
- The deal proposes swapping 48 hostages for a ceasefire and 2,500–3,000 Palestinian prisoners.
A New U.S. Play
Steve Witkoff bypassed traditional mediators, sending the plan through Israeli activists Gershon Baskin and Bishara Bahbah. The text ties release of remaining hostages to a ceasefire and a large prisoner exchange. Washington added pressure by warning Hamas of severe Israeli escalation if the deal is rejected.
Watch now: Hamas says ready for talks on US-proposed ceasefire plan
President Trump reinforced the message with blunt language. He warned Hamas that releasing hostages could unlock progress, but refusal would bring devastating consequences. His remarks framed the plan as a last chance before Israel launches a sweeping assault on Gaza City.
Israel Signs On
Israel confirmed acceptance, announced by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Budapest. He described the proposal as a viable step toward ending the war. This marks the first formal Israeli approval of a U.S.-brokered offer since the conflict’s current escalation began.
Hamas’s reaction carried both willingness and caution. Leaders declared readiness to negotiate but attached conditions: a ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal, and a new governing body for Gaza. Those demands mirror earlier positions and complicate direct acceptance of the U.S. plan.
Previous mediators from Qatar and Egypt had advanced a 60-day truce in August. Hamas accepted that draft, but Israel never confirmed. The U.S. backchannel effort shifts the dynamic by cutting through regional intermediaries and pairing diplomacy with military threats.
Stakes Ahead
The agreement seeks release of about 48 hostages in exchange for 2,500–3,000 Palestinian prisoners. For families of captives, it could deliver long-awaited relief. For Palestinians in Gaza, it offers a pause to months of bombardment, though humanitarian conditions remain dire.
Israel continues preparing a major ground assault into Gaza City. Officials warn operations will proceed if Hamas delays. The military calculus pressures Hamas to decide quickly, weighing prisoner gains against looming destruction. Hamas must also manage internal divisions and regional expectations.
A breakthrough could stabilize the war’s trajectory and open political space for Gaza’s future governance. A collapse could unleash heavier fighting and deepen regional fallout. The next days will show whether diplomacy can still check military momentum or whether conflict takes the upper hand.
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