Hamas Responds to Ceasefire Proposal, Reiterates Demands
On May 31, 2025, Hamas submitted its response to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Gaza, mediated by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, reiterating its core demands while expressing skepticism about the proposal’s alignment with its goals. The proposal, accepted by Israel, includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages’ bodies, and the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners, alongside humanitarian aid distribution involving the United Nations. However, Hamas officials, including Basem Naim and Sami Abu Zuhri, stated that the proposal fails to meet their key demands, describing it as biased toward Israel and insufficient to end the ongoing conflict. Below is a detailed breakdown of Hamas’s response, demands, and the context of the negotiations, based on available reports.
Hamas’s Response to the Ceasefire Proposal
- Review and Critique: Hamas confirmed it is “thoroughly reviewing” the proposal but criticized it for not addressing their “just and legitimate demands.” Naim told Reuters that the proposal “does not meet any of our people’s demands, foremost among them, halting the war and famine,” accusing Israel of seeking to perpetuate the occupation and continue policies of killing and starvation. Abu Zuhri echoed this, noting the absence of commitments to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops, or ensure unhindered aid delivery.
- Consultations: Hamas is engaging with other Palestinian factions, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad, to formulate a unified response, indicating a deliberative approach. The group promised to deliver a formal response to mediators in Egypt and Qatar by June 1 or 2, 2025.
- Previous Agreement Claims: Hamas claimed it had reached a “general framework” with Witkoff earlier, which included a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal, and unhindered aid. They expressed surprise at the new proposal, calling it an “Israeli paper” that deviated from prior understandings, lacking guarantees against resuming hostilities after the 60-day truce.
Hamas’s Core Demands
Hamas has consistently outlined the following demands in ceasefire negotiations, reiterated in their latest response:
- Permanent Ceasefire: Hamas insists on a guaranteed end to the war, not a temporary truce. They fear Israel could resume hostilities after the 60-day ceasefire, as occurred after a ceasefire collapsed in March 2025.
- Complete Israeli Withdrawal: The group demands the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, including from “security buffer zones” established by Israel, which currently control about 30% of the territory.
- Unhindered Humanitarian Aid: Hamas seeks assurances for continuous and unrestricted aid delivery to address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, where severe malnutrition is widespread, and bakeries have shut down due to supply shortages.
- Reconstruction of Gaza: With over 90% of Gaza’s homes damaged or destroyed, Hamas demands commitments to rebuild the territory.
- Rejection of Disarmament: Hamas has firmly rejected Israel’s demand for the group and other Gaza militant factions to disarm, with official Khalil Al-Hayya calling their arsenal a “red line” and a “natural right” as long as the Israeli occupation persists.
Context of the Negotiations
- Proposal Details: The U.S. proposal, backed by Israel, offers a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 living hostages (including U.S. citizen Edan Alexander) and 18 deceased hostages’ bodies within the first week. Israel would release 1,236 Palestinian prisoners, including 180 remains, and allow aid distribution through U.N. channels. However, it does not commit to a permanent ceasefire or full troop withdrawal, and it includes a new mechanism for aid distribution to prevent Hamas from controlling supplies.
- Previous Ceasefire Attempts: A fragile ceasefire from January 19, 2025, collapsed on March 18 when Israel resumed military operations, citing Hamas violations. Earlier, in May 2024, Hamas accepted an Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a three-phase deal involving hostage releases, troop withdrawals, and reconstruction, but Israel rejected it, claiming it did not meet their demands to destroy Hamas as a military force.
- Current Conflict Dynamics: The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251 hostages, has resulted in nearly 54,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction in Gaza, per Gaza’s health ministry. Israel’s ongoing operations, including airstrikes and ground incursions, have displaced 2 million Palestinians and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
- Political Pressures: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right coalition partners like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, who oppose any deal that doesn’t eradicate Hamas, with Ben Gvir advocating for “full force” in Gaza. Conversely, hostage families and opposition leader Yair Lapid urge acceptance of the proposal. Hamas, meanwhile, is wary of Israel’s history of breaking truces and insists on U.S. guarantees for a permanent ceasefire.
Critical Perspective
Hamas’s rejection of the proposal as “biased” reflects a deep mistrust of Israel’s intentions, given past ceasefire violations and the lack of firm commitments to end the war or withdraw troops. However, their insistence on a permanent ceasefire and rejection of disarmament may prolong negotiations, as Israel remains committed to dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities. The U.S. proposal attempts to bridge these gaps but appears to favor Israel’s security concerns, which Hamas perceives as perpetuating the occupation. The involvement of mediators like Egypt and Qatar, and the U.N.’s call for Israel to ensure aid access, highlight the international community’s urgency to resolve the crisis, but deep differences persist.
Connection to Broader Issues
The ceasefire talks indirectly relate to your earlier queries about government debt and financial mismanagement. High government debt, as seen in contexts like Nigeria or the U.S., can strain public resources, limiting funding for international aid or reconstruction efforts in places like Gaza. For individuals, this underscores the importance of financial prudence—saving in stable assets like bonds to hedge against global instability—while navigating personal financial issues, such as an unresponsive adviser, requires proactive steps to protect assets, as previously advised.
Conclusion
Hamas’s response to the U.S. ceasefire proposal underscores their unwavering demands for a permanent ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, unrestricted aid, and reconstruction, while rejecting disarmament. The proposal, while offering a temporary truce and hostage releases, falls short of these demands, leading Hamas to view it as favoring Israel. Ongoing consultations with Palestinian factions and mediators suggest a response is imminent, but the gap between Hamas’s demands and Israel’s conditions—coupled with political pressures on both sides—makes a deal elusive. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, amplifying the urgency for a resolution.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, ABC News, NPR, and posts on X.
For updates, check https://www.reuters.com or https://www.aljazeera.com for the latest developments in the negotiations. If you have specific details about the proposal or want a deeper analysis of any aspect, let me know!
