Palestinian official claims Witkoff changed his mind on Hamas offer; US envoy issues denial

A Palestinian official accuses US special envoy Steve Witkoff of walking back previous understandings.

The official claims to The Times of Israel that Witkoff initially informed Hamas through mediators that he accepted the alterations it had made to his proposal for a temporary ceasefire.

This led to a series of media reports earlier today citing Hamas officials who claimed that the group had accepted Witkoff’s proposals.

But Witkoff then changed his mind, informing mediators that what Hamas had presented was not acceptable to him, the Palestinian official says.

Speaking to The Times of Israel, Witkoff flatly denies the Palestinian official’s claim.

He then refers to a statement he issued to the Axios news site in which he denied claims from Hamas officials that the terror group had accepted his proposal for a ceasefire.

“What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable,” he said then.

“Israel will agree to a temporary ceasefire and hostage release deal that would see half of the living and half of the deceased returned and lead to a substantive discussion to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I have agreed to preside over.”

“That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it,” Witkoff said.