Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Proverbs 3:5-10

Hamas Responds to U.S. Cease-Fire Proposal for Gaza

Hamas Responds to U.S. Cease-Fire Proposal for Gaza  at george magazine

The group did not say whether it had accepted or rejected the deal to halt fighting for at least two months and ensure the release of some of the remaining hostages.

Hamas said on Saturday that it had sent a response to an American cease-fire proposal to pause the war in Gaza for at least 60 days and free about half of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The announcement follows weeks of efforts by U.S. officials and other mediators to cobble together a new truce. Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Mideast envoy, pitched the latest framework in the past week. It would halt fighting for at least two months, ensure the release of half of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and lead to further U.S.-backed negotiations on a permanent end to the war.

A Hamas official outside Gaza said the group was seeking amendments on issues including guarantees on ending the war and the details of the hostage-for-prisoner swaps. The official requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel says he is willing to reach a temporary cease-fire with Hamas, he has ruled out ending the war unless the group lays down its weapons and sends its leaders into exile. Hamas has so far refused those terms and wants firm guarantees that the war will end permanently.

Israel ended a two-month cease-fire in mid-March — citing a deadlock in talks on the next steps in the truce — and resumed attacks on Hamas while blockading humanitarian aid from entering the enclave.

Hamas said on Saturday that it had submitted an answer to the latest cease-fire proposal that aimed to achieve a permanent cease-fire, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to desperate and hungry Palestinians in Gaza. The wording indicated that the group was seeking more than the current proposal’s guarantee of a temporary pause in hostilities.

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