US envoy criticizes Hamas as hostage exchange talks falter
The US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has criticised Hamas's response to the proposal for a hostage exchange. According to Witkoff, Hamas's rejection of the American offer has made negotiations more challenging.
What do you need to know?
- What happened? Hamas rejected the United States' proposal concerning the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
- Where and when? Hamas's response was published on platform X on Saturday, while Israel had previously accepted the US proposal.
- Why is it important? The rejection of the proposal by Hamas complicates the negotiation process and could affect future actions in the Gaza Strip.
What are the details of the US proposal?
Steve Witkoff, the US President's Special Envoy to the Middle East, expressed his dissatisfaction with Hamas's response to the American hostage exchange proposal. "Hamas's response is totally unacceptable," wrote Witkoff on platform X.
The US proposal included a 60-day ceasefire, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and hand over the bodies of 18 deceased individuals in exchange for the release of 125 Palestinians and the handover of 180 deceased Palestinians.
Why did Hamas reject the proposal?
In its statement, Hamas said that the US proposal "does not meet our people's demands".
Hamas wrote that under this agreement, 10 living prisoners of the occupier, held by the resistance, would be released, in addition to 18 bodies being handed over, in exchange for the agreed number of Palestinian prisoners.
Although the proposal was accepted by Israel, Hamas rejected it, which, according to Witkoff, sets back the negotiation process.
Israeli media reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is ready for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, based on the US proposal. Witkoff's plan anticipates that during the truce, negotiations on permanently ending the war would take place, with the possibility of Israel resuming military actions if the talks failed.
