Hamas responds to US proposal by demanding permanent Gaza ceasefire

By Euronews with AP

Published connected 31/05/2025 - 18:09 GMT+2•Updated 20:22

Hamas says it has responded to a US connection for a impermanent ceasefire, reiterating long-standing demands of "a imperishable ceasefire, a broad withdrawal from nan Gaza Strip, and guarantee nan travel of assistance to our group and our families successful nan Gaza Strip,"

None of these conditions were included successful nan original draught connection by nan US, which Israeli officials person accepted.

In a statement, Hamas said 10 surviving Israeli hostages and 18 deceased ones would beryllium released successful speech for "an agreed upon number of Palestinian prisoners."

According to nan first US proposal, nan fighting would extremity for 60 days and spot nan merchandise of immoderate of nan 58 hostages still held successful Gaza successful speech for Palestinian prisoners and much-needed nutrient assistance and different assistance, according to Hamas and Egyptian officials who said connected information of anonymity.

It makes nary definitive guarantee of a imperishable extremity to nan war.

Food trucks raided

Palestinians successful Gaza blocked and offloaded 77 nutrient trucks, nan UN World Food Programme said, arsenic hunger mounts pursuing Israel's blockade of nan territory. The WFP said nan aid, mostly flour, was taken earlier nan trucks could scope their destination.

The astir three-month blockade connected Gaza has pushed nan organization of complete 2 cardinal to nan brink of famine. While unit somewhat eased successful caller days arsenic Israel allowed immoderate assistance to enter, assistance organisations opportunity acold from capable nutrient is getting in.

The United Nations said earlier this period that Israeli authorities person forced them to usage unsecured routes wrong areas controlled by Israel's subject successful nan eastbound areas of Rafah and Khan Younis, wherever equipped gangs are progressive and trucks person been stopped successful nan past.

Israeli strikes continue

Israel has successful nan mean clip continued its subject run crossed Gaza, saying it struck dozens of targets complete nan past day. Health officials successful Gaza person said astatine slightest 60 group were killed by Israeli strikes successful nan past 24 hours.

The ministry said 3 group were killed by Israeli gunfire early Saturday successful Rafah. Three others were killed — parents and a kid — erstwhile their car was struck successful Gaza City. An Israeli onslaught deed different car successful Gaza City, sidesplitting four. And an Israeli onslaught deed a shelter sheltering displaced group successful Khan Younis, sidesplitting six, said Weam Fares, a spokesperson for Nasser Hospital.

The warfare began erstwhile Hamas attacked Israel connected October 7, 2023, sidesplitting astir 1,200 people, astir of them civilians, and taking 250 hostages. Of those taken captive, 58 stay successful Gaza. Israel believes 35 are dormant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said location are “doubts” astir nan destiny of respective others.

Israeli strikes person killed much than 54,000 Gaza residents, mostly women and children, according to nan Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which does not separate betwixt civilians and combatants successful its tally.