Hamas Reviews Revised Wietcov Ceasefire Proposal as Netanyahu Signals Acceptance

Watan-The Palestinian movement Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it has received the revised ceasefire proposal from U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Wietcov, stating in an official statement that it is studying the plan responsibly to safeguard the interests of the Palestinian people, secure humanitarian aid, and achieve a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli media claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the Wietcov proposal. According to Channel 15, citing an unnamed source, Hamas feels that the U.S. proposal favors Israel and lacks guarantees for ending the war.

Hamas had previously stated on Wednesday that it had reached a general framework agreement with Wietcov aimed at a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, uninterrupted humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a professional committee to manage Gaza’s postwar affairs.

According to Channel 12, Netanyahu informed the families of Israeli hostages that he had accepted the new proposal, which, notably, does not interfere with Israel’s new aid distribution mechanism in Gaza. Netanyahu is set to hold a security meeting Thursday evening, joined by far-right ministers including Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and Gideon Sa’ar.

However, the proposal has triggered a political rift within Israel’s governing coalition. Ben Gvir publicly opposed any deal that includes a partial halt to the war or the release of Palestinian prisoners, warning Netanyahu not to cross his “red line.”

Smotrich also rejected the proposal, calling it “utter folly” to reduce pressure on Gaza or agree to any partial deal that could allow Hamas to recover. In contrast, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel must act when an opportunity to recover hostages arises.

Details of the Wietcov Proposal

According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the updated Wietcov plan includes:

• Immediate halt to all Israeli offensive operations upon the deal’s start

• Release of 10 live Israeli hostages and return of 18 bodies, in two phases

• International guarantees from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar for the ceasefire

• Wietcov is expected to arrive in the region to finalize the agreement

Implementation timeline:

• Day 1: 5 live hostages + 9 bodies handed over by Hamas

• Day 7: 5 more hostages + 9 more bodies transferred

• Israel’s side:

  • Release of 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences

  • Release of 1,111 detainees from Gaza arrested after October 7

  • Return of 180 Gaza bodies, in two phases

• Day 10: Hamas submits a full list and medical reports on all remaining Israeli hostages

Wietcov’s Optimism and U.S. Strategy

Speaking from the White House, Wietcov expressed strong optimism about the possibility of a comprehensive solution to the war in Gaza. He described the proposal as a major step toward a long-term, peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Despite the cautious language from Hamas, Israeli intelligence assessments suggest Hamas may reject the proposal, while Hamas leaders privately voiced disappointment over its pro-Israel bias and lack of guaranteed Israeli withdrawal or aid protocol enforcement.