War in the Gaza Strip
Hamas reacts to the US proposal for ceasefire
Updated on May 31, 2025 – 6:30 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could relax the emergency of the people in the Gaza Strip. But the two sides are probably not yet in agreement.
According to Hamas, Hamas has transmitted an answer to the proposal of an armistice in the Gaza Strip. However, the communication of the radical Islamic terrorist organization does not explicitly emphasize whether they agree or not. However, Hamas generally agreed to released Israeli hostages.
Hamas has now announced that it wants to release ten living hostages. However, they should not be released at once, but in five steps, as the “Times of Israel” reported. According to this, four hostages are to be released on the first day of the ceasefire, two hostages on the thirtieth day and then four hostages on the last day.
However, the plan originally negotiated stipulates that the ten hostages are released in two steps within a week. In addition, the corpses of 18 deported are to be handed over. Israel assumes that 20 to 23 living hostages and at least 35 corpses of abducted people are currently in the violence of Hamas.
In return, 125 Palestinians were sentenced to life sentences and 1,111 residents of the Gaza Strip, which were arrested after the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023.
According to the Witkoff plan, the two sides should negotiate the release of the war during the 60-day ceasefire about the release of the remaining hostages.
There is no guarantee of the final cessation of the fighting – this has been a central demand for Hamas. To what extent the Hamas has now reacted to this part of the plan remained open at first.
The Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strictly rejects a ceasefire in which all hostages come and the war comes to an end. Critics accuse her of wanting to continue the war unlimited for domestic reasons.
With the concession of a partial freedom of hostage, Hamas has moved to Israel in the negotiations – probably also under the impression of its massive losses in the war and the catastrophic situation of the oppressed population of the Gaza Strip. There is a threat of famine there.
