Hamas expresses reaction to proposed truce, reaffirms specified conditions

Chillin' with Conflict: Here's the lowdown on the latest ceasefire proposal between Hamas and the U.S., straight up and unfiltered.

Hamas peeps dropped their response to the recent ceasefire plan by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on the weekend, sticking to their guns with their core demands. They want a permanent peace deal, full pullout of forces from Gaza, and guaranteed humanitarian aid flowing like a river.

This ain't the first rodeo for Hamas—their demands stay the same as previous ceasefire negotiations. They've even got a hostage exchange plan up their sleeve: 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Over the past 24 hours, Israeli forces have smashed at least 60 Palestinians and wounded another 284 across Gaza. The Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza reported this brutal corpselike tally on Saturday. Since Oct. 7, 2023, when this hellscape began with Hamas attacking Israel, killing 1,200 and taking hundreds hostage, at least 20 hostages still languish in Hamas captivity.

Witkoff ain't pleased with Hamas' answer, calling it "completely unacceptable." He's holdin' out for Hamas to accept the U.S.'s framework proposal before any talks go down.

"Hamas needs to embrace the framework we laid out as a foundation for proximity talks, which we can kick off in the coming week," Witkoff posted on social media. "That's the only way we'll seal a 60-day ceasefire deal in the near future, letting half of the living hostages and half of those who've kicked the bucket come back home to their families. That's not all—we'll also have significant negotiations at the proximity talks to try to achieve a permanent ceasefire."

On Thursdsay, the White House said they'd sent an Israeli-approved ceasefire proposal to Hamas.

Israel's defense minister ain't mincing words, warning Hamas to take the deal or get obliterated.

"The Hamas killers are now gonna be compelled to choose: accept the terms of the 'Witkoff Deal' for the hostages' release, or get crushed," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday. "The IDF maintains its bombardment of Gaza with maximum force, striking and demolishing Hamas outposts, while evacuating the population from every combat zone and relentless assault from the air, land, and sea to maximally safeguard our soldiers before they move in and carry out maneuvers in each area."

This story's still brewing—stay tuned for updates.

P.S. In case you're curious, during similar negotiations in 2025, Hamas typically demands a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, and unhindered humanitarian aid to flow.

International political discussions, including the ceasefire proposal between Hamas and the U.S., often intertwine with the health and well-being of the citizens, as humanitarian aid is one of Hamas' key demands.
War-and-conflicts in regions like Gaza not only involve military actions but also affect the food supply, as demonstrated by Hamas' demand for a permanent peace deal that includes a full pullout of forces from Gaza and guaranteed humanitarian aid.
General news coverage regularly features updates on ongoing conflicts, such as the current ceasefire proposal, but it also highlights the impacts of war on the civilians, like the 20 hostages still languishing in Hamas captivity.