Egypt Daily News – U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has informed Hamas via mediator Bishara Bahbah, that a ceasefire could continue beyond the proposed 60-day truce, provided negotiations remain ongoing. The Trump administration, Witkoff emphasized, is committed to ensuring that the cessation of hostilities holds if talks progress.
Speaking to Axios on Wednesday, Witkoff revealed that Israel had rejected a Hamas request to withdraw to positions held before the previous ceasefire collapsed. His comments come as diplomatic sources report that both Hamas and Israel are nearing a deal for a 60-day truce.
The advancement in negotiations coincided with a second meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. Discussions reportedly focused on the situation in Gaza and the urgency of reaching a ceasefire agreement, including the release of remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Following the meeting, Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s determination to dismantle Hamas’s military and administrative capabilities, while acknowledging the possibility of a hostage release as part of the truce arrangement.
A new round of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel began Sunday evening in Qatar, following the presentation of a new U.S.-backed proposal delivered by mediators. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the proposal is based on a framework crafted by Witkoff.
The American plan includes a two-month truce during which Hamas would release 10 Israeli hostages alive, taken during the October 7, 2023 attack. In return, Israel would release a number of Palestinian detainees, according to two Palestinian sources cited by Agence France-Presse.
While key details remain under negotiation, optimism is growing that both sides may be approaching a breakthrough, marking the most significant progress in months of stalled diplomacy.
