
Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff Fires Back After Hamas Submits ‘Totally Unacceptable’ Proposal
Hamas responded Saturday, May 31, to the US cease-fire proposal with a bevy of new conditions, which were swiftly ripped by special envoy Steve Witkoff as “totally unacceptable.”
The terror group’s demands effectively stalled negotiations on the 60-day truce by demanding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu consider a permanent cease-fire after an initial release of hostages, along with the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas also demanded unrestricted humanitarian aid pour into the region.
If a permanent truce is not reached within 60 days, Hamas reportedly also wants to halt the Jewish State from resuming fighting. And they seemed interested in a longer timeline to conduct hostage and prisoner exchanges with Israel.
“I received the Hamas response to the United States’ proposal. It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward,” Witkoff posted on X. Without accepting the initial framework, Witkoff — whose plan didn’t include a permanent cease-fire or full withdrawal — cautioned that a lasting peace would remain out of reach.
The most recent cease-fire proposal pitched Thursday by Witkoff calls for a 60-day truce as well as the release of the 10 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased captives.
The deal would also prompt the release of 125 Palestinian terrorists serving life sentences in Israel and 1,111 more from Gaza who have been detained since the war broke out on Oct. 7. Another 180 bodies of dead Palestinians in Israel would also be returned under the terms of the proposal. (NYP/VFI News)
“Our Heavenly Father, we lift up in prayer our hostages and we continually ask for their release. You are the God of miracles; for You one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. We pray in Yeshua’s Name that You speed up the process so the hostages can be free and safe from harm. Please heal them, protect them, show them Your love and Your Son, and help us be content with Your perfect Will at all times.”