Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the revised ceasefire proposal from Steve Whitcoff, informing the families of hostages in Gaza earlier today.
Meanwhile, Hamas has expressed “disappointment” with the US special envoy’s proposal, as it lacks a definitive assurance from Washington that the suggested temporary ceasefire will transition into a permanent agreement, according to a source knowledgeable about the negotiations, speaking to Axios.
Whitcoff’s proposal outlines that both parties will negotiate the terms of a permanent ceasefire during a 60-day temporary truce. However, it does not specify that an extension of these negotiations would lead to prolonging the temporary ceasefire, as per the source.
Hamas is advocating for a proposal that guarantees such an extension, recalling that in a previous agreement from January, Israel declined to negotiate permanent ceasefire terms and resumed hostilities following the lapse of the temporary truce.
The same source indicated that Hamas officials have not officially rejected the proposal yet, having confirmed its receipt just hours ago. However, they have conveyed their dissatisfaction with its provisions to mediators.
Additionally, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to promptly accept the new US proposal.
“Israel must publicly and immediately embrace the framework presented this morning by US mediator Steve Whitcoff,” Lapid stated in a post on the X platform.
He reminded Netanyahu that he has full support from the opposition for the approval of the plan, even if ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich attempt to obstruct it.
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