(Substack)—Hamas has been accused of attempting to manipulate the terms of a proposed cease-fire deal, according to Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s special envoy. Witkoff claims the terror group misrepresented the proposal he sent, altering key details in their public response.
On Monday, a Hamas-affiliated Palestinian official told Reuters that the group received a U.S. proposal outlining a 70-day ceasefire, the release of five live hostages on the first and final days of the truce, a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving long sentences. This account was echoed in reports from Al Jazeera, which noted Hamas’s claim of a new U.S.-backed deal with these terms.
However, Witkoff, speaking to Axios, expressed frustration, calling Hamas’s response “disappointing and completely unacceptable.”
He clarified that his actual proposal involved the release of 10 living and 19 dead hostages in exchange for a 45- to 60-day ceasefire and the release of some Palestinian prisoners.
According to The Times of Israel, Witkoff’s deal was designed to pave the way for negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire, a point he reiterated on CNN: “I agreed to lead these negotiations. There is a deal on the table, and Hamas needs to accept it.” He added, “The ceasefire will lead to meaningful negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office swiftly rejected Hamas’s version of the deal, denying it was a U.S. proposal.
“No responsible Israeli government could accept it,” the statement read, as reported by CNN.
Israel had reportedly agreed to Witkoff’s original terms, which aligned with broader efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
The last ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which began in January 2025, collapsed on March 18 when Israeli forces resumed military operations in Gaza, according to The Jerusalem Post. Tensions remain high, with Witkoff and Israeli officials accusing Hamas of undermining negotiations by misrepresenting the proposed terms.