Israel rejects latest proposed hostage-ceasefire deal, senior Israeli official says

Following a Lebanese report that a new outline for a hostage and ceasefire proposal has been agreed upon in principle by Israel, a senior Israeli official says the deal has been rejected.

“The proposal received by Israel cannot be accepted by any responsible government,” says the official, without giving any further details.

A Lebanese outlet affiliated with Hezbollah reported this morning that Israel agreed in principle to a draft proposal including a ceasefire of about 70 days, during which 10 hostages – five alive and five deceased – would be released in two phases, modifying the so-called Witkoff outline, which laid out a shorter ceasefire for the release of about 10 living hostages.

“There is no genuine willingness on Hamas’s part to move forward with a deal. Israel remains committed to the Witkoff framework,” says the Israeli official.

According to the Al-Mayadeen report, the latest discussions, mediated by US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, concluded early this morning. It did not say where those talks were held or whom they involved.