New response from Hamas to US ceasefire proposal: We are ready for indirect negotiations

Hamas has issued a new statement following its response to the agreement proposal presented by US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which includes a temporary ceasefire and hostage exchange in the Gaza Strip.

In the statement released by Hamas, the group announced that it is ready to immediately begin indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the contentious points in Witkoff's proposal, to end the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, to ensure a permanent ceasefire, and for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Hamas also thanked Qatar and Egypt for their efforts toward a ceasefire.

THE US HAD REACTED TO HAMAS'S RESPONSE TO THE CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL

Hamas had been dissatisfied with Witkoff's proposal for a 60-day temporary ceasefire because it did not include a clear US guarantee that the temporary ceasefire would be extended accordingly if negotiations exceeded 60 days, or that the temporary ceasefire would lead to a permanent one.

In its response to the proposal yesterday, Hamas stated that 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 hostages in the Gaza Strip would be handed over to Israel, in exchange for Israel releasing a specific number of Palestinian prisoners. Witkoff reacted to Hamas's response, stating, "Hamas's response to the proposal is absolutely unacceptable." Israel, for its part, had accepted Witkoff's ceasefire proposal on May 29.