Tel Aviv, Israel (AP) – Hamas has requested changes to the latest US ceasefire proposal in Gaza. A senior official from the group informed The Associated Press on Saturday, but US envoy Steve Witkoff deemed Hamas’ response “absolutely unacceptable.”
This latest tension in negotiations comes as the armed conflict approaches 20 months, with increasing despair among starving Palestinians and relatives of hostages in Gaza.
Hamas officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks, indicated that the proposed amendments centered on “US guarantees, the timing for hostage releases, aid deliveries, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.” No further details were provided.
Another statement from Hamas suggested that the proposal aimed at establishing a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and a significant flow of aid. It mentioned the potential release of 10 live hostages and 18 deceased individuals in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. Currently, 58 hostages remain, and Israel estimates that 35 are deceased.
On Saturday, May 31, 2025, I will take part in a protest against Tel Aviv Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government calling for the end of the war and the immediate release of hostages.
Witkoff described a framework for a 60-day ceasefire that would facilitate the release of half of the hostages currently alive in Gaza and return half of the deceased. He urged Hamas to accept this proposal as a basis for discussions, which he suggested could commence next week.
Israeli authorities have approved US proposals for a temporary ceasefire. President Donald Trump indicated that negotiators were nearing a deal.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, accused Israel of obstructing agreed terms and claimed a “full bias against the other side,” asserting it undermined the mediation process.
“We desire an end to the bloodshed,” said Motashim, a resident of the Al Bulay refugee camp in central Gaza. “I swear, we are exhausted.”
Rising Despair in Gaza
The United Nations World Food Programme reported that Palestinians in Gaza intercepted and unloaded 77 food trucks, as hunger continues to mount due to Israel’s prolonged lockdown of the territory. The WFP noted that flour—mostly flour—was photographed before the truck could reach its intended destination.
An eyewitness from Khan Eyns, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, stated that the UN convoy was halted with makeshift obstacles and that desperate civilians unloaded it.
Gaza’s nearly three-month lockdown has pushed over two million people to the brink of famine. While Israel has recently allowed some aid, it argues that the volume is insufficient.
Young Palestinians are waiting to collect donated food at the Food Distribution Kitchen in Deir Albara, Gaza Strip on Friday, May 30, 2025 (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The Israeli military agency managing aid coordination in Gaza, Kogat, reported that 579 trucks provided aid last week. The UN indicated that 600 trucks per day had been operational under a previous ceasefire that was disrupted by new artillery fire.
The WFP emphasized the acute risk of starvation in Gaza: “We must flood our communities with food in the coming days to relieve our fears,” the statement read, noting that over 140,000 tonnes of food—enough to sustain Gaza’s population for two months—is ready for delivery.
The UN earlier stated that Israeli officials compelled the use of unsecured routes in areas under Israeli control in eastern Rafa and Khan Yunis, where armed gangs operate, leading to truck stoppages.
Security Challenges Impacting UN Aid Distribution
Internal documents shared with the aid organization regarding security incidents reported to the AP indicated that there were four incidents at the facilities that were looted over a three-day span at the end of May, excluding Saturday.
The United Nations has declared it is unable to secure adequate assistance for the struggle.
This week, a new US- and Israeli-backed initiative began operations in Gaza, distributing food at several chaotic locations.
Israel asserts that Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will ultimately supplant the UN and other aid operations. It charges Hamas with siphoning off a significant portion of aid, necessitating a new mechanism. The UN has countered that no substantial changes will occur.
The GHF is reported to operate with armed contractors to facilitate safer food distribution. Aid organizations have condemned this militarization of aid. The GHF claimed to distribute 30 trucks of food on Saturday, describing it as the largest distribution to date.
Israeli Strikes Result in Casualties
Israel reported it continued its military operations across Gaza, striking dozens of targets within the past day. The Gaza health ministry stated that at least 60 people have been killed in Israeli strikes within the last 24 hours.
According to the ministry, three individuals were killed by Israeli gunfire in Rafa early Saturday, while three more were killed in a car attack in Gaza City, which included parents and children. An Israeli attack on another vehicle in Gaza City resulted in four fatalities, and the strike that evacuated displaced persons in Khan Yunis killed six, noted hospital spokesman Weem Farez.
Israeli forces reported that several projectiles from Gaza fell into open areas.
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an assault on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, and the capture of 250 hostages.
Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of over 54,000 individuals in Gaza, with the majority being women and children, although Gaza’s Ministry of Health clarifies that it does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants in its reports.
The coalition of hostage families once again demands a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that would release all hostages simultaneously, warning that the remaining captives will “not survive under ongoing military pressure.”
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Magiddy reported from Cairo. Natalie Meltzer, Associated Press writer, contributed from Naharya, Israel.
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Source: apnews.com