Hamas rejected a revised ceasefire proposal made by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff amid reports of terrorist group launching a failed drone attack from Gaza.
Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, had proposed to extend the ceasefire, which formally expired two weeks ago, throughout the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan (February 28 – March 29).
“A Hamas statement seen by the BBC said negotiations had broken down,” the UK broadcaster reported Sunday.
Earlier this week, the Israeli government accepted the Witkoff plan in a bid to bring the remaining hostages home after 525 days of Gaza captivity. Hamas continues to hold 59 hostages, including the bodies of 35 Israelis murdered in Gaza on October 7, 2023.
Prime Minister “Netanyahu’s office had earlier said Israel accepted the US proposal,” the BBC added. “It said Hamas remained “firm in its refusal and has not budged a millimetre,” accusing the group of “manipulation and psychological warfare”.”
The Israel Hayom newspaper reported the details of the Witkoff plan:
Witkoff’s proposal, as previously reported, included the release of 11–12 living hostages in two phases, along with the remains of approximately 18 captives, in exchange for the resumption of humanitarian aid and electricity supply to Gaza, as well as the initiation of intensive negotiations for a more comprehensive agreement. Hamas, in its statements, confirmed the details of this proposal, including its demand for an Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor and the commencement of discussions on a second phase as initially agreed upon in the deal.
The Israeli government will hold a cabinet meeting on Saturday night to decide further steps. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following an initial consultation on Friday evening, will convene the Cabinet on Saturday night to receive a briefing from the negotiation team and make decisions regarding the next steps.” the Israel Hayom noted.
Hamas’ rejection comes a day after Witkoff disclosed that the terrorist group was making excessive demands, suggesting that it had no interest in serious negotiations. Witkoff “warned on Friday evening that Hamas is making ‘unrealistic’ demands behind the scenes, accusing it of gambling on time being in its favor while failing to meet critical deadlines,” the Israeli news website YNET reported.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday eliminated Hamas drone operators as they tried to target Israeli ground troops in northern Gaza.
“Earlier today…, two terrorists were identified operating a drone that posed a threat to IDF troops in the area of Beit Lahia. The IDF struck the terrorists,” the Israeli military said in a statement Saturday. “Later, a number of additional terrorists collected the drone operating equipment and entered a vehicle. The IDF struck the terrorists.”
The Hamas propaganda machine rushed to declare the targeted terrorists as ‘aid workers’ and ‘journalists’, who happened to be drone enthusiasts. “Palestinian reports from the Strip claimed that the drone operators were documenting the distribution of humanitarian aid and that at least nine people were killed in the IDF strikes, including two journalists, the YNET noted, citing Hamas-controlled propaganda outlets.
In another incident, the IDF spotted and eliminated terrorists planting roadside bombs near Israeli military positions. “A short while ago, three terrorists were identified operating near IDF troops in the area of Netzarim, attempting to plant explosive devices on the ground,” the military disclosed Saturday morning. “The IDF struck the terrorists.”
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