Hamas accepts US ceasefire proposal, but Israel says no breakthrough achieved

A senior Hamas official has confirmed that the group has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff, aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza and securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

However, Israeli officials have downplayed the development, saying negotiations are continuing but no breakthrough has been achieved, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said on May 27 morning that the group had agreed to the Witkoff framework in a bid to reach a ceasefire and facilitate an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza. He added that Hamas is now awaiting Israel’s response.

Israeli officials acknowledged that talks have been ongoing for several weeks, but clarified that there has been no substantive progress. “The negotiations are continuing, but there is no breakthrough,” said one official in Jerusalem.

The remarks follow a report on May 26 by a Palestinian source close to Hamas, said the group had agreed in principle to the Witkoff proposal for a ceasefire. According to the source, the plan includes the release of 10 hostages in two phases, alongside a 70-day pause in fighting.

Earlier this week, an Israeli official dismissed Hamas’s latest offer, calling it unacceptable. “No responsible government could agree to the proposal Hamas has presented,” the official said, accusing the group of lacking genuine intent to reach a deal. Nevertheless, the official reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the Witkoff framework.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video message on May 26, expressing hope for progress. “I hope we will be able to announce something regarding the hostages today or tomorrow,” he said. However, a senior Israeli official later tempered expectations, stating: “There is no progress in the negotiations. A breakthrough can only come if Hamas aligns with the Israeli position. The Prime Minister meant that we will not give up on freeing our hostages. If we don’t achieve it in the coming days, we will pursue it further down the line.”

The statement sparked frustration among families of the hostages. “If the government isn’t making every effort to bring back our loved ones, the least it can do is be more careful with its words,” said one family representative. “This is just another sign of the leadership’s lack of sensitivity toward families who have been stuck in October 7 for nearly 600 days, waiting anxiously every minute.”

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a hostage deal and a Gaza ceasefire in the coming days. Trump, responding to journalists’ questions about the conflict, said he hoped a resolution could be found quickly.

By Aghakazim Guliyev