CAIRO: A Palestinian official said Monday Hamas has agreed to a proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff for a Gaza ceasefire, only for an Israeli official to deny the proposal was Washington’s and add that no Israeli govt could accept it.Witkoff also rejected the notion that Hamas had accepted his offer for a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, telling Reuters that what he had seen was “completely unacceptable” and the proposal being discussed was not the same as his.The Palestinian official, who is close to Hamas, had told Reuters the proposal would see the release of 10 hostages and a 70-day ceasefire and was received by Hamas through mediators. “The proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in two groups in return for a 70-day ceasefire and a partial withdrawal from Gaza,” the source said. It also included the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu later said he “hoped very much” he would be able to deliver developments on the subject of Israel’s fight against Hamas and releasing the hostages, “today and if not today then we will tomorrow”. (This is a Reuters story)
