Israel has agreed to a US ceasefire plan

The proposal reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire and expanded humanitarian aid through UN channels.

The White House said Israel had “signed off” on a new Gaza ceasefire proposal submitted to Hamas, but the Palestinian militant group said the deal failed to satisfy its demands.

Negotiations to end the war have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough, with Israel resuming operations in Gaza in March after a brief truce.

The White House said United States President Donald Trump and US envoy Steve Witkoff had “submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas that Israel backed”.

Here’s what you need to know.

Israel accepts US-led ceasefire deal

Israeli media reported earlier that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted a deal presented by Witkoff.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Israel has “signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas”, adding discussions were “continuing” with the militant group.

How has Hamas responded?

Hamas, which governs Gaza, “is studying the amended Witkoff proposal with a high sense of responsibility, stemming from interest to achieve the interests of our people and ensure an end to the aggression,” a Hamas official told Reuters.

Hamas sources said last week the group had accepted a US-backed deal, but on Thursday, political bureau member Bassem Naim said the new version meant “the continuation of killing and famine … and does not meet any of our people’s demands, foremost among them halting the war”.

“Nonetheless, the movement’s leadership is studying the response to the proposal with full national responsibility,” Naim said.

A source close to the group said the new version “is considered a retreat” from the previous one, which “included an American commitment regarding permanent ceasefire negotiations”.

What does the ceasefire outline?

Leavitt did not detail its contents. But The New York Times quoted an Israeli official familiar with the proposal as saying the initial phase would include a 60-day ceasefire and humanitarian aid flowing through United Nations-run operations.

AFP has reported that, according to two sources close to the negotiations, the new proposal involves a 60-day truce, potentially extendable to 70 days, and the release of 10 living hostages and nine bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and those held under administrative detention during the first week.

Witkoff told reporters earlier this week the US was close to “sending out a new term sheet” about a ceasefire to the two sides in the conflict that has escalated since October 2023.

“I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution, of that conflict,” Witkoff said then.

The Gaza health ministry reported the Israeli army has killed 3,986 Palestinians and wounded 11,451 others since breaking the last ceasefire in March.

Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely and be dismantled as a military and governing force, and that all the 58 hostages still held in Gaza must be returned before it will agree to end the war.

Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war.

Controversial humanitarian aid efforts

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private group backed by the US and endorsed by Israel, has expanded its aid distribution to a third site.

Heavily criticised by the UN and other aid groups as inadequate and flawed, the group’s operation started this week in Gaza, where the UN has said 2 million people are at risk of famine after Israel’s 11-week blockade on aid entering the enclave.

The aid launch was marred by tumultuous scenes earlier this week when thousands of Palestinians rushed distribution points and forced private security contractors to retreat.

The UN Human Rights Office said it believes 47 people were injured in the chaos as Israeli soldiers reportedly opened fire on the desperate crowds, with the Gaza health ministry reporting at least one person was killed by the gunfire.

The Israeli military claimed soldiers fired warning shots into the air and said they are checking reports of civilian casualties.

Source: sbs.com.au — With reporting by Reuters and AFP