Mediators optimistic Hamas will soon submit softened hostage deal proposal — sources

Mediators are optimistic that Hamas will soon submit an updated hostage deal proposal that will be closer to what US special envoy Steve Witkoff presented last week, three sources familiar with the matter tell The Times of Israel.

Hamas submitted an earlier response to Witkoff’s proposal on Saturday, which the US envoy blasted as unacceptable.

Since then, Egyptian and Qatari mediators — along with Witkoff’s representative in Doha, Palestinian-American businessman and political activist Bishara Bahbah — have been working with Hamas officials to soften or remove some of the changes they made to the US proposal, an Arab official and a second source familiar with the matter say.

A third source says Witkoff is optimistic about the chances for a breakthrough before the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which is slated to begin on Friday.

Witkoff met yesterday with a group of hostage families in the White House, along with several other senior Trump aides.

Even if Hamas submits a softened proposal, the sides will still need to hold a round of proximity talks aimed at ironing out final details, including the exact parameters of Israel’s partial withdrawal from Gaza during the 60-day temporary truce currently under discussion.

The main issue of contention in the talks remains whether the temporary truce under discussion leaves enough of a window for Israel to resume fighting after it expires or if the proposal’s assurances from the Trump administration are enough to convince Hamas that the ceasefire will hold permanently.