Trump sets new conditions for a ceasefire in Gaza

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said that President Donald Trump is finalizing a new written agreement on Wednesday that could form the basis of a potential ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.

"We are about to send a new terms document, and we hope it will be delivered later today," Witkoff said.

He added, "The president will review it. I have very positive feelings about reaching a long-term solution, a temporary ceasefire, a long-term peaceful solution, to this conflict."

Witkoff made these remarks at the White House, standing alongside President Trump, who said his administration is working to expedite food deliveries to Palestinians in Gaza.

"We're dealing with the entire situation in Gaza. We're delivering food to the people of Gaza. It's been a very bad situation," Trump told reporters. The deal calls for the release of 10 living Israeli hostages, along with an unspecified number of bodies of the slain hostages, in exchange for "an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, guaranteed by the mediators," according to the agreement.

The Times of Israel quoted an unidentified Israeli official as rejecting Hamas's claim of an agreement with the United States, describing the statement as "psychological warfare" and "propaganda."

"Hamas' proposal is unacceptable to both Israel and the US administration," the official added, adding, "As [Wittkopf] himself said two days ago, while Israel has accepted Witkopf's framework, Hamas continues to maintain its rejection."

Hamas announced on Wednesday that it had reached an agreement with Witkoff "on a general framework that achieves a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the flow of aid, and a professional committee taking over the management of the Strip's affairs immediately after the agreement is announced."

"The agreement includes the release of 10 Israeli prisoners and a number of bodies, in exchange for the release of an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, guaranteed by mediators," it said in a statement, in addition to an unspecified number of bodies of the slain hostages.

An unidentified Israeli official quickly denied Hamas's claim of an agreement with the United States, describing it as "psychological warfare" and "propaganda."