Following days of conflicting reports about a possible ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, the Palestinian movement confirmed in an official statement that it had reached a “general framework agreement” with US envoy Steve Witkoff.
The agreement outlines a path toward a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Witkoff stated he had “very positive impressions” regarding the potential for a ceasefire and said a new proposal may be presented soon.
Earlier, sources close to Hamas suggested the group had agreed to a proposal involving a 70-day truce, partial Israeli withdrawal, and the phased release of ten Israeli hostages.
However, Witkoff disputed this account, clarifying to Axios that Israel would only accept a temporary ceasefire and a hostage exchange that included half of the living hostages and half of the bodies of the deceased, paving the way for substantive talks on a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas’s updated statement on Wednesday marked a shift, stating the movement had reached agreement on a framework for a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the establishment of a professional body to manage the territory post-conflict.
The framework also includes the release of ten Israeli hostages and a number of bodies in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement would be guaranteed by mediators, pending a final response from the relevant parties.
A senior Hamas official outside Gaza told Asharq Al-Awsat that the official statement reflects the movement’s position on a formal proposal it received through backchannel negotiations. The source stressed that there is only one active negotiation channel and dismissed reports based on Israeli media leaks targeting right-wing audiences.
The official added that the proposal emerged through discussions with individuals close to the US, including Palestinian-American academic Bishara Bahbah, who is associated with the Trump administration. Hamas accepted the proposal in principle, based on Witkoff’s outline.
According to the source, the framework calls for an initial partial ceasefire that would transition into direct negotiations aimed at ending the war entirely. Disagreements remain, however, over the timeline of the hostage release: whether to free half of the hostages on day one and the remainder on the final day, or to shorten the interval to improve the chances of success. The decision now rests with Israel’s response to the mediators.
Witkoff’s original plan reportedly proposed a 60-day ceasefire, with the release of half the hostages immediately and half the bodies at a later date without an explicit guarantee of ending the war.
Hamas, meanwhile, pushed for an extended 90-day truce and a gradual Israeli withdrawal under international supervision, with negotiations for a lasting ceasefire starting immediately upon implementation.
As for Witkoff’s earlier denials of an agreement, the Hamas source downplayed them, saying the group focuses on official communications, not public statements. He noted that Witkoff recently told hostage families that an agreement might be within reach.
The official concluded that Hamas remains open to advancing under the framework, pending Israel’s final position.
