Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he is hopeful that news regarding Israeli hostages held in Gaza may emerge within the next 48 hours, suggesting progress in international mediation efforts.
Benjamin Netanyahu © Mena Today
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he is hopeful that news regarding Israeli hostages held in Gaza may emerge within the next 48 hours, suggesting progress in international mediation efforts.
His remarks came after Hamas announced it had accepted a version of what it called the “Witkoff Framework”—a U.S.-backed proposal for a ceasefire and hostage exchange. However, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff swiftly rejected that claim, accusing Hamas of misrepresenting the deal.
“What I’ve heard so far from Hamas has been disappointing and completely unacceptable,” Witkoff said, adding that Israel had already agreed to a fair and balanced framework that includes the release of half of the living hostages in exchange for a 70-day ceasefire.
Israeli officials remain firm in their stance, having rejected Hamas’s latest counterproposal that included the release of only five hostages, along with demands for Israeli military withdrawal and open aid corridors to all areas of Gaza. A senior Israeli source described the offer as “totally unworkable” and “far from any serious negotiation framework.”
“The proposal lacked clarity, responsibility, and honesty,” the official said. “It’s another attempt by Hamas to gain international legitimacy without real concessions.”
Though Netanyahu did not confirm any specific development, his statement reflected cautious optimism. The Israeli government continues to press for the unconditional release of all hostages and a deal that ensures long-term security and regional stability.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza was not at risk after Israel launched airstrikes in the enclave, which killed 26 people in response to the killing of an Israeli soldier.
Israeli planes launched strikes in Gaza on Tuesday after Israel accused the militant group Hamas of violating a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory, the latest test of a fragile deal brokered earlier this month by U.S. President Donald Trump.
UNIFIL peacekeepers have begun refurbishing Blue Line markers damaged during last year’s conflict, marking an important step toward restoring stability in south Lebanon.
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