Tel Aviv: A senior Israeli official has confirmed that the government has rejected the latest proposed ceasefire and hostage deal, saying the terms set by Hamas are unacceptable and go against Israel’s war goals.
This announcement came on Monday, May 26, 2025, after Lebanese outlet Al-Mayadeen claimed that Israel had agreed in principle to a new plan involving a 60-day truce and the release of 10 living hostages.
The official said, “The proposal received by Israel cannot be accepted by any responsible government,” explaining that Hamas was demanding conditions that made it impossible to end the war or ensure the return of all hostages.
The deal, reported by several Arab news sources, including Sky News Arabia and Egyptian channel Al-Rad, involved Hamas stopping hostile actions and arms production during the ceasefire.
It also included a demand for 1,000 humanitarian aid trucks to enter Gaza daily. The plan suggested that during the truce, both sides would negotiate an end to the war and create a technocratic government to replace Hamas in Gaza.
Talks were reportedly brokered by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Palestinian-American Bishara Bahbah. The U.S. was expected to ensure both sides kept their promises during the truce.
Despite this, Israel said the new proposal strayed far from the earlier U.S. plan put forward by Witkoff, which focused on a shorter ceasefire and fewer conditions. Israeli leaders insist there is no serious effort from Hamas to close the gaps and reach a deal.
The main organization representing families of Israeli hostages also rejected the proposal, calling it “dangerous” and demanding a full deal to return all 58 hostages and end the war completely.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas led a deadly surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages into Gaza.
Since then, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and free all remaining hostages, about 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war will not end until Hamas is removed from power and the group agrees to disarm and leave Gaza’s leadership.
He also recently recalled Israeli negotiators from Doha due to Hamas’s refusal to accept earlier proposals.
Pressure is growing on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, where famine risks are rising. Even the United States has expressed concern over hunger in the region.
Although some aid deliveries restarted last week, the situation remains tense, and a permanent ceasefire deal still seems far away.
