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Monday, May 26, 2025
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Monday, May 26, 2025
Witkoff denies Hamas accepted his truce proposal, says group’s stance ‘disappointing and unacceptable’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff arrives for a signing ceremony at the Royal Palace in Doha on May 14, 2025. (Karim Jaafar/AFP)
US special envoy to the Mideast Steve Witkoff denies claims from Hamas officials that the terror group has accepted his proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.
“What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable,” Witkoff tells the Axios news site.
Witkoff says Israel is prepared to agree to a temporary ceasefire that would see half of the living and deceased hostages return “and lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I agreed to preside over.”
“That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it,” Witkoff says.
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