Hamas has not yet accepted a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday. Israel, on the other hand, has already accepted the Wifkoff-framework.
The deal, which was negotiated by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, includes a 60-day truce, the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies held by Hamas, and the exchange of 1,100 Palestinian prisoners—including 100 serving long sentences. Israel would permit hundreds of aid trucks daily into Gaza, where famine threatens 2 million people.
Hamas officials called the terms "disappointing," stating that the framework "does not meet its [Hamas'] demands", noting that they fail to guarantee a permanent ceasefire and end Israel’s blockade.
Hamas insists any deal must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to the war, and unrestricted aid access. Senior official Bassem Naim stated the current proposal "perpetuates occupation and famine". Privately, Hamas fears Israel will resume attacks after hostage releases—a scenario that unfolded in March when a prior truce collapsed. However, with its leadership fragmented and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worsening, the group faces pressure to accept temporary relief.
The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) expanded to a third distribution site Thursday despite chaotic scenes earlier this week. Thousands of Palestinians stormed GHF trucks, overwhelming private security and highlighting desperation after Israel’s 11-week aid blockade. Though GHF supplied 1.8 million meals, UN agencies condemn the system as "inadequate," noting only 100–170 trucks enter daily—far below the 500 needed to curb starvation. At least four Palestinians died Wednesday raiding a UN warehouse for food.
The truce stalls on irreconcilable demands, where Israel demands Hamas disarm completely and relinquish control of Gaza, with Netanyahu vowing "indefinite Israeli control", backing Trump’s controversial plan to expel millions of Palestinians. Hamas, however, refuses to surrender its weapons or exile its people, offering instead to transfer power of the strip to an independent Palestinian committee, while remaining active as a 'resistance movement'.