US ceasefire push in Gaza deepens rift with Israeli leadership
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Israeli analysts and soldiers condemn the Trump envoy’s Gaza ceasefire plan, warning it risks military setbacks, boosts Hamas, and undermines battlefield morale.
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President Donald Trump, right, listens as White House special envoy Steve Witkoff, left, speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for interim US Attorney General for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP)
A ceasefire proposal for Gaza, introduced by Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, has drawn fierce criticism from Israeli military analysts and journalists, who claim the plan undermines Tel Aviv’s military objectives and emboldens the Palestinian Resistance.
According to Channel 14, military analyst Noam Amir described the Trump envoy’s Gaza ceasefire proposal as “very bad", warning that it would roll back recent battlefield gains, including control over the Morag axis. He further cautioned that the plan effectively hands "a lifeline for Hamas," allegedly enabling unmonitored humanitarian aid deliveries and facilitating extensive captive exchanges that could strengthen the group's position.
“We haven’t even discussed yet the dangerous prisoners who will be released,” Amir added, pointing to the high cost of the deal.
“A 60-day halt to the war signals the beginning of the end. Once a real ceasefire begins, can we return to fighting with the same intensity?” he stressed.
Concerns mount over Hamas prisoner exchange deal
Amir revealed further details via Telegram, stating that under the proposal, "Israel" would release 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, 1,111 detainees from Gaza, and the bodies of 180 others.
The proposed Hamas prisoner exchange deal has sparked outrage among IOF soldiers deployed in Gaza. Amir said he received “dozens of angry messages” from troops frustrated by the idea of halting operations.
“Why did they send us in here last month?” one message read.
“You must scream as loud as you can to make our voices heard, this war must not stop. Does everything we achieved in Rafah mean nothing?” another message said.
Witkoff’s Truce plan seen as strategic setback
Journalist Amichai Stein of i24news noted that Witkoff is attempting to present a “balanced proposal", including the release of 10 captives upfront, with the option of resuming hostilities if further negotiations collapse.
However, Stein warned that the Steve Witkoff ceasefire plan could “restrict Israel and push it to backtrack from its tough stance,” especially now that sustained humanitarian pressure has weakened Hamas internally.
Although Tel Aviv has not issued an official position on the deal, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the small security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was scheduled to meet Thursday evening to discuss it.
If accepted, talks will move to Doha for negotiations of bringing the viewpoints closer to each other with intermediaries. On Wednesday, Witkoff expressed optimism, stating, “I expect a draft document to be submitted to the President for review by the end of the day,” while emphasizing the need for “a temporary ceasefire followed by a long-term resolution to this war.”
Sources cited by Yedioth Ahronoth claim the plan aligns with Witkoff’s earlier blueprint, indicating that Tel Aviv may be considering the proposal seriously.
Hamas approves Witkoff's Gaza ceasefire proposal
The Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas announced on Tuesday its approval of a new ceasefire proposal presented by US envoy Steven Witkoff, marking a potential breakthrough in efforts to halt the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
In an official statement, Hamas said the proposal outlines a general framework that includes a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the immediate entry of humanitarian aid, and the formation of a professional committee to administer the enclave’s civil affairs upon the formal announcement of the agreement.
The statement further noted that the deal entails the release of ten Israeli captives, along with the return of several bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian detainees, under the supervision of international mediators.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim announced on Monday that the movement has agreed to a new proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff. According to Naim, the essence of the initiative is “to reach a cessation of war, ensure the withdrawal of hostile forces, and lay the groundwork for a permanent ceasefire.”
Naim confirmed the acceptance through a Facebook post, stating, “We await the Zionist occupation’s response.”
The announcement follows exclusive reporting by Al Mayadeen on Sunday, which revealed that both Hamas and the Israeli occupation had been reviewing a proposal drafted by Palestinian-American mediator Bishara Bahbah, in coordination and with the approval of US envoy Steve Witkoff.
According to a senior Palestinian official familiar with the matter, the document outlines several key components: an initial ceasefire period of 60 days in exchange for the release of 10 Israeli captives in two batches. Hamas, however, proposed a 90-day truce in return for the release of 10 captives, five alive and five deceased. The American side ultimately endorsed a 70-day duration. Both versions include mechanisms to facilitate humanitarian access and reduce assaults.
A senior Palestinian official exclusively told #AlMayadeen earlier in the morning that Palestinian-American mediator Dr. Bishara Bahbah, working with US envoy #SteveWitkoff, has submitted a comprehensive ceasefire framework that could potentially end the ongoing war on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/6afo8NyjhM
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 26, 2025
The document also emphasizes that the ceasefire period would be comprehensive and fully guaranteed by US President Donald Trump, reflecting a serious effort to halt the hostilities.
