Hamas and Witkov reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza

Sources told Al Jazeera on Monday that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) reached a formula for a permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza with US Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff in Doha.

According to the sources, this formula includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 10 prisoners in two batches, and the exchange of bodies for Palestinian prisoners. Five Israeli prisoners will be released on the first day of the agreement, and another five on the 60th day.

In exclusive statements to Al Jazeera Net, a source close to Hamas revealed details of the proposal, which includes the full entry of humanitarian aid, at a rate of 1,000 trucks per day, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the eastern, northern, and southern regions of the Gaza Strip on the fifth day of the ceasefire.

The Hamas source added that there is an American pledge to lead serious negotiations leading to a comprehensive ceasefire and to guarantee that military operations will not resume if negotiations falter during the truce period.

The sources told Al Jazeera that, according to the agreement, US President Donald Trump guarantees a ceasefire within 60 days and an Israeli withdrawal in accordance with the January agreement. They noted that the agreement stipulates a vision for the continuation of the ceasefire after the 60 days, with mediators ensuring its implementation.

According to the sources, the agreement includes guaranteeing the unconditional entry of humanitarian aid from day one, in accordance with the humanitarian protocol, with the guarantee of the United States and mediators. The sources added that the US envoy conveyed the agreement to the Israeli government and is awaiting its final response.

conflict

However, conflicting statements loom over the wording of the agreement. While Witkov said Israel had agreed to his proposal, an Israeli official asserted that what he called Hamas's ceasefire proposal could not be accepted.

Israel's Channel 14 reported, citing an Israeli source, that the Netanyahu government rejected Hamas' offer to release 10 prisoners in exchange for a 70-day ceasefire and American guarantees to end the war.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted an official source as saying that Hamas had agreed to a different version of the agreement than the one Israel accepted to complete the deal.

Meanwhile, Axios quoted Witkoff as saying that Israel had agreed to his proposal, which includes the release of half of the living prisoners and half of the dead ones. He believed that the ceasefire would lead to meaningful negotiations to find a path toward a permanent ceasefire.

The US envoy added that he "agreed to lead these negotiations, and there is a deal on the table, and Hamas must accept it."

Last chance

Political analyst Ibrahim al-Madhoun told Al Jazeera Net that Hamas's acceptance of the Witkov initiative was not an easy decision, particularly after tens of thousands of martyrs and the Gaza Strip's transformation into an open theater for the Israeli killing machine.

Al-Madhoun said that the movement saw the need to act at this critical moment to halt the genocide that has been ongoing for nearly 600 days, given the inability of regional and international powers to end the war or protect the Palestinian people. Ultimately, the movement chose to accept the initiative for the sake of its people and to halt the ongoing bloodshed, and that it may be the last chance to end these ongoing massacres.

According to al-Madhoun, Hamas believes that this initiative, which was amended in coordination with the American mediator, could open the door to a comprehensive, or at least long-term, cessation of hostilities, particularly since it stipulates the entry of urgent humanitarian aid, guarantees a tangible easing of the blockade, and obligates the occupation to withdraw its forces from large areas of the Gaza Strip.

According to the political analyst, it appears the movement was keen to secure a personal pledge from US President Donald Trump, as he is the only party capable of effectively influencing and pressuring Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Moreover, the United States' direct and indirect sponsorship of this initiative gives it additional political leverage and guarantees, distinguishing it from previous initiatives that failed to survive.

In Al-Madhoun's opinion, "Given the reality of the extremist occupation, American guarantees remain the decisive element in the agreement's success," noting that if a final agreement is reached, Hamas appears to be fully committed to all its provisions and will handle it with a high degree of responsibility.

Regarding the Israeli government's position, Al-Madhoun believed that Netanyahu, who is wanted by international justice, is not truly interested in reaching this agreement. Rather, he is likely to seek to obstruct it, either through direct rejection or by attempts to modify the essence of the initiative and alter its features, making it more closely aligned with a purely Israeli vision.

According to Israeli estimates, there are 58 Israeli prisoners held in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive. More than 10,100 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.

Hamas has repeatedly affirmed its willingness to release all Israeli prisoners in one batch, in exchange for an end to the war of extermination, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

But Netanyahu is evasive and insists on reoccupying Gaza and disarming the Palestinian factions, who refuse to do so as long as the Israeli occupation continues.

On May 18, the Israeli army launched a military operation dubbed "Gideon's Wagons," as part of its ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. The new plans include occupying the entire Palestinian enclave, according to Netanyahu.