No ceasefire: American proposal for a cease-fire rejected

The official also told the BBC that the offer did not include guarantees that the temporary truce would lead to a permanent ceasefire, nor a return to the humanitarian protocol that allowed hundreds of aid trucks to enter Gaza daily during the last ceasefire.

He added that Hamas remains in contact with mediators and will submit its written response in a timely manner.

The proposal of the US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff for a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza includes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages, alive and dead, in the first week of the truce, Reuters reported today.

The proposal envisages the release of 125 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment, as well as the handover of the remains of 180 Palestinians. The plan, said to be guaranteed by US President Donald Trump and mediators Egypt and Qatar, reportedly involves sending aid to Gaza as soon as Hamas signs a cease-fire agreement.

Steve Witkoff's proposal, which was submitted to Hamas for approval yesterday, calls for Hamas to release the last 30 hostages once a permanent ceasefire is in place. The White House announced on Thursday that Israel had agreed to a US ceasefire proposal. Hamas representatives told Reuters yesterday that they were reviewing the plan and would respond today or Saturday.

Israel imposed a total blockade of Gaza and resumed a military offensive against Hamas on March 18 following the end of a two-month ceasefire brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt. It is reported that this is to pressure Hamas to release the 58 hostages it is still holding, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Nearly 4,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the past 10 weeks, according to the Hamas-run territory's Health Ministry.