Senior Mediator Spells Out Gaza Ceasefire Proposal Agreed To By Hamas, Israel Yet To Respond

NEW ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL, Egypt — There was a muted consequence from Israel aft Hamas said it had agreed to nan latest connection from Arab mediators for a ceasefire in Gaza and to free nan remaining hostages.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told NBC News Tuesday that nan woody was based connected a connection by President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a 60-day ceasefire, during which immoderate of nan remaining 50 hostages would beryllium released and nan sides would discuss a lasting ceasefire and nan return of nan rest.

He added that nan proposals would let for “the travel of humanitarian and aesculapian assistance into Gaza arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to reside nan ongoing starvation there.”

“The shot is now successful Israel’s court. We would for illustration a affirmative consequence from them arsenic soon arsenic imaginable successful bid to woody pinch nan disastrous business successful Gaza, particularly nan starvation and nan sidesplitting of civilians,” he said. “Even if it is only a 60-day truce, it provides a model of opportunity. We must use maximum unit connected some sides to move forward,” he added.

Smoke rises pursuing an Israeli service airstrike successful Khan Younis, successful nan Gaza Strip, connected Monday.Mariam Dagga / AP

Hamas said successful a statement Monday that nan militant group and different Palestinian factions had approved nan proposals which were put guardant by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Asked astir that announcement, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agency shared a connection he made connected Monday, suggesting a determinedness to push up a subject run to presume afloat power of Gaza City successful nan northbound of nan enclave. They besides noted that Hamas appeared to beryllium “under immense pressure.”

His agency did not respond erstwhile asked for a further consequence astir nan proposals.

Netanyahu’s ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned nan improvement successful a connection Monday. “We conflict only to win! In nary measurement to extremity successful nan middle, pinch a partial woody that will wantonness half of nan hostages and could lead to nan warfare being stopped successful defeat,” he said.

And President Donald Trump besides appeared to dampen hopes for a truce, successful a station connected Truth Social connected Monday. “We will only spot nan return of nan remaining hostages erstwhile Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, nan amended nan chances of occurrence will be,” he wrote.

His envoy, Witkoff, pulled retired of negotiations little than a period ago, accusing Hamas of not acting successful bully faith.

Palestinians stitchery arsenic a kindness distributes nutrient successful Gaza City, connected Saturday. Hamza Z. H. Qraiqea / Anadolu via Getty Images

The proposals came arsenic Palestinians successful Gaza proceed to grapple pinch a devastating hunger crisis, pinch humanitarian groups informing that nan assistance entering nan enclave successful caller days will not beryllium capable to curb a emergence successful deaths from starvation.

Israel banned nan introduction of food, medicine and different captious supplies into Gaza connected March 2, successful nan midst of its ceasefire pinch Hamas. After lifting nan blockade successful May, it allowed of trickle of assistance successful for weeks. But amid an world backlash and accusations of utilizing starvation arsenic a limb of war, it yet accrued nan magnitude it allowed in.

Israel has defended nan blockade by saying capable assistance is entering nan Strip, while accusing Hamas of diverting aid, a complaint Hamas and assistance groups person denied. An internal U.S. authorities analysis recovered nary grounds of systematic theft of assistance supplies by Hamas. The Israeli subject dismissed that study arsenic “biased.”

The Palestinian wellness ministry successful Gaza said connected Monday it had recorded 3 caller big deaths “due to famine and malnutrition” wrong a 24-hour period, bringing nan full decease toll from starvation to 266 people, including 112 children.

IDF soldiers hole tanks connected Monday adjacent nan Gaza Strip's bluish borders, Israel.Elke Scholiers / Getty Images

With entranceway by roadworthy nether restrictions, immoderate countries person carried retired aerial drops, though they are wide considered mostly ineffective and dangerous. A vessel carrying 1,200 tons of nutrient for Gaza was approaching nan Israeli larboard of Ashdod connected Tuesday successful a bid to thief reside nan crisis, according to The Associated Press.

Israel launched its violative successful Gaza pursuing nan Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks successful which immoderate 1,200 group were killed and astir 250 taken hostage, marking a awesome escalation successful a decadeslong conflict.

Since then, much than 62,000 group person been killed successful Gaza, including thousands of children, according to nan Palestinian wellness ministry successful nan enclave, while overmuch of nan territory has been destroyed.