US envoy Witkoff dismisses ‘totally unacceptable’ Hamas response to hostage deal proposal

US special envoy Steve Witkoff says Hamas’s response to his hostage deal proposal is “totally unacceptable and only takes us backward.”

“Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week,” he says.

“That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days in which half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased will come home to their families and in which we can have at the proximity talks substantive negotiations in good-faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire,” Witkoff adds.

This appears to be the first time Witkoff is framing his proposal as a mere framework for subsequent talks, rather than a final proposal for the parties to accept.

US President Donald Trump indicated to reporters yesterday that a deal could be announced later that day or today.

On the other hand, the proposal did stipulate that the parties would still have to reach an agreement on the parameters of Israel’s partial withdrawal from Gaza during the 60-day truce.