US slams Hamas reply to ceasefire deal, says hostage launch provide ‘takes us backward’

The USA envoy to West Asia criticised Hamas over its response to a US-proposed ceasefire deal, with the terrorist group saying it might free 10 residing hostages from Gaza.

“It’s completely unacceptable and solely takes us backward,” Steve Witkoff wrote on X. “Hamas ought to settle for the framework proposal we put ahead as the premise for proximity talks, which we will start instantly this coming week.

“That’s the solely manner we will shut a 60-day ceasefire deal within the coming days wherein half of the residing hostages and half of those that are deceased will come house to their households and wherein we will have on the proximity talks substantive negotiations in good-faith to attempt to attain a everlasting ceasefire,” he added.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas responded to a ceasefire provide made by US Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, agreeing to free 10 residing hostages held in Gaza as a part of the association.

“The Islamic Resistance Motion (Hamas) as we speak submitted its response to Witkoff’s newest proposal to the mediating events,” the group stated in an announcement as reported by AFP.

“As a part of this settlement, 10 residing prisoners of the occupation held by the resistance can be launched, along with the return of 18 our bodies, in alternate for an agreed-upon variety of Palestinian prisoners.”

The ceasefire plan, which has been permitted by Israeli officers, gained a cool preliminary response Thursday from the militant group. However President Donald Trump stated Friday negotiators had been nearing a deal.

Israeli media reported earlier this week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the households of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted the deal offered by Witkoff. The prime minister’s workplace declined to remark on the time.

Deep variations between Hamas and Israel have stymied earlier makes an attempt to revive a ceasefire that broke down in March.

Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm utterly, be dismantled as a army and governing pressure and return all 58 hostages nonetheless held in Gaza earlier than it is going to agree to finish the warfare.

Hamas has rejected the demand to surrender its weapons and says Israel should pull its troops out of Gaza and decide to ending the warfare.

Israel launched its marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas assault in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 individuals and noticed 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, in response to Israeli tallies.

The next Israeli army marketing campaign has killed greater than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza well being officers say, and has left the enclave in ruins.

For the reason that warfare started, greater than 54,000 Gaza residents, principally ladies and youngsters, have been killed in response to the Gaza Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally.

The warfare started when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing round 1,200 individuals, most of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of these taken captive, 58 stay in Gaza, however Israel believes 35 are useless and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated there are “doubts” concerning the destiny of a number of others.

Some Gaza residents stated their hope for a ceasefire is tempered by repeated disappointment over negotiations that did not ship a long-lasting deal.

With inputs from businesses