Full details of Hamas’s response to Witkoff’s Gaza ceasefire proposal

While Hamas submitted its response to the deceptive proposal by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, regarding a Gaza ceasefire, which Witkoff deemed unacceptable, Al Jazeera published a copy of Hamas’s response.

Hamas announced on Saturday evening that it had submitted its response to the new Gaza ceasefire proposal, including provisions for achieving a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of occupiers from the Gaza Strip, and ensuring humanitarian aid delivery to Palestinians in the territory.

Hamas’s response includes the release of 10 live Israeli captives and the bodies of 18 deceased captives in several phases in exchange for the release of an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners during a 60-day ceasefire.

During this period, negotiations would take place to end the war and secure Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. The details of the response submitted are as follows:

Negotiation framework for a permanent ceasefire

During the 60-day ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump would guarantee the Israeli regime’s commitment to the ceasefire. During this period, 10 live Israeli captives and the bodies of 18 deceased captives would be released: four live captives on the first day, two live captives on the 30th day, and four live captives on the 60th day.

The bodies of six deceased captives would be released on the 10th day, six more on the 30th day, and six on the 50th day.

Humanitarian situation in Gaza

 Immediately after the ceasefire agreement is approved, humanitarian aid would be delivered to Gaza through the United Nations, its agencies, and other international organizations, including the Red Crescent, in accordance with the humanitarian protocol outlined in the January 19, 2025, agreement.

Critical infrastructure, including electricity, water, sanitation, communications, and roads, would be restored, and necessary equipment, including construction materials, would be brought in. Reconstruction of hospitals, health centers, schools, and bakeries across Gaza would commence.

Residents of the Gaza Strip must be allowed freedom of movement and return through the Rafah crossing without restrictions, and the movement of goods and commercial activities would resume.

During the negotiation period, measures for rebuilding destroyed homes, facilities, and infrastructure, as well as supporting those affected by the war, would be finalized.

A three-to-five-year Gaza reconstruction plan would be implemented under the supervision of several countries and organizations, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.

Israeli military movements

All military activities by the Israeli regime would cease concurrently with the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. During the ceasefire, Israel would suspend its flights—both military and reconnaissance—over the Gaza Strip for 10 hours per day and for 12 hours per day on days of captive exchanges.

On the first day of the agreement, four live Israeli captives would be released, provided that Israeli forces withdraw from all areas of the Gaza Strip to their positions as they were before March 2, in accordance with the mechanism outlined in the January 19, 2025, agreement.

Negotiation file

On the first day, indirect negotiations under the supervision of mediators guaranteeing a permanent ceasefire would begin, focusing on:

- The terms and conditions for exchanging all remaining Israeli captives for a specified number of Palestinian prisoners agreed upon. 

- Declaring a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of occupying forces from the Gaza Strip. (After agreement on the captive exchange and before the start of their handover, a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all areas of the Gaza Strip would be announced.)

Post-war arrangements in Gaza

An independent technocratic committee would immediately take over the management of all Gaza affairs with full authority and responsibilities following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Mutual military operations between the two sides would be halted for a period of five to seven years, guaranteed by mediators.

Donald Trump must provide serious guarantees regarding the commitment of both parties to the ceasefire agreement and ensure that negotiations during the temporary ceasefire, if successful, would lead to a permanent resolution of the conflict.

Palestinian prisoners file

In exchange for the release of 10 live Israeli captives and the bodies of 18 deceased captives, a number of live Palestinian prisoners and the bodies of martyred Palestinian prisoners would be released as per the agreement.

On the 10th day, Hamas would provide information on the number of remaining live and deceased Israeli captives in Gaza. In return, Israel would provide comprehensive information on all live and martyred Palestinian prisoners detained from the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

Hamas commits to ensuring the health, welfare, and security of Israeli captives immediately after the ceasefire. In return, Israel must commit to ensuring the health, welfare, and security of Palestinian prisoners in its prisons and detention centers in accordance with international laws and norms.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire must be completed within 60 days. Following the agreement and the announcement of a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the remaining Israeli captives—both live and deceased—from a list of 58 provided by the Israeli side would be released in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners.

Mediators, including the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, would guarantee the continuation of the ceasefire for 60 days, ensuring that negotiations for a permanent ceasefire continue alongside the cessation of military operations and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Steve Wittkopf, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, will travel to the region to finalize the agreement and lead the negotiations. Donald Trump will personally announce the ceasefire agreement, and the United States and its president commit to working to ensure negotiations continue until a final agreement is reached.

Hamas’s response comes as Steve Witkoff considers it unacceptable, arguing that the movement’s response should align with the principles outlined in his proposed document.

However, Palestinians emphasize that Witkoff’s proposal aligns with Israeli demands, contains ambiguities and numerous question marks, and lacks clear guarantees for ending the war.

Many observers warn that, as with all previous proposals, the United States, in coordination with the Israeli side, seeks to remove the captives card from the resistance’s hands. As proven previously, neither the U.S. nor Israel adheres to their commitments, and there is a high likelihood that they could violate the agreement at any moment, resuming aggression against Gaza.