US envoy says Gaza ceasefire deal is on the table, as Israel prepares for 'unprecedented attack'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN World

Updated 3:26 PM EDT, Mon May 26, 2025


Jerusalem CNN — US special envoy Steve Witkoff has told CNN that a ceasefire-hostage deal for Gaza is currently on the table with a pathway to end the war, and urged Hamas to accept it. The proposal would see the release of half of the living hostages and half of those who have died in exchange for a temporary ceasefire before negotiations begin for a comprehensive agreement to end the war.

He declined to specify how long that temporary truce would last, which has been a key issue in the negotiations.

“Israel will agree to a temporary ceasefire/hostage deal that would see half of the living and half of the deceased return and lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I have agreed to preside over,” Witkoff told CNN on Monday. “That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it.” He said Hamas has yet to accept the deal.

Reuters reported earlier on Monday that Hamas had agreed to a proposal that would see the release of 10 hostages in two groups in exchange for a 70-day truce. Witkoff told CNN that was not his proposal. “What I have seen is completely unacceptable,” Witkoff said, referring to the report.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/26/middleeast/us-envoy-gaza-ceasefire-deal-intl

[moniss]

2. According to Reuters Hamas accepted it but

Israel has said they won't. It looks like this may be one of those things where it is a pretext to dangle before a major military action so that someone can claim there was an offer but it wasn't accepted by Hamas and so we're going to start the "new" invasion.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-agrees-us-proposal-gaza-ceasefire-palestinian-official-says-2025-05-26/

[BumRushDaShow]

3. We have been through this song and dance before, many times

An "announcement" is made that "an agreement has been accepted" and then there is some denial from (fill in the blank country) that it wasn't accepted or that the other side "changed it".

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

[moniss]

7. Indeed and I put up a response in another comment

about the sameness of the horror and the aspect of Vietnam and how the reading of the weekly reports of casualty figures just fell into an evil abyss of acceptance after awhile because people felt powerless to stop it. Governments often do everything they can to make people powerless. In Israel there are huge protests always against Netanyahu. Nothing changes. Last week in Jerusalem young Israelis on both sides were battling each other in the street as the police looked on and let it get out of hand. The chants of "Death to Arabs" filled the air and except for stumbling upon the story on Reuters I wouldn't even have seen it.

We are in this dangerous place now, like during Vietnam, where we have been hearing numbers and stories for so long now that even the worst atrocities don't draw a gasp. Having to cut the limbs from children in order to save them and not have anesthetic because of blockades or supplies being bombed passes by in a long daily list of this and that while governments wag their fingers and speak harsh and hollow words. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Netanyahu is on record many times now saying he will not stop even if the hostages are all released. So there is the stated intent to continue on like this and the evil abyss swallows us more and more. Like the frog in water coming to the boil and it is now too late because the madman is turning up the fire and a weak opposition around the world won't stop him.

[Mosby]

6. Witkoff: Israel prepared to accept temporary ceasefire; Hamas should do the same

US envoy denies that Hamas has accepted his hostage deal proposal; Palestinian official claims he walked back previous understandings; Israeli official blames intermediary Bahbah.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/witkoff-israel-prepared-to-accept-temporary-ceasefire-hamas-should-do-the-same/

Reuters is full of shit as usual.

[Ray Bruns]

4. Someone should tell US special envoy Steve Witkoff that Israel has decided his services

Are no longer required.

[republianmushroom]

5. Seems like it has been there several times.

Remember, DAY ONE.