Israel receives new Hamas response in ceasefire talks, after mediators reject unacceptable counteroffer

The Israeli government has received Hamas’ response to the latest Israeli proposal in the hostage-ceasefire negotiations. 

On Thursday morning, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement, saying, “The mediators have relayed Hamas's response to the Israeli negotiation team; it is currently being evaluated.” 

The details of the Hamas response are not yet known, and one government source told Israeli media that “It is not yet possible to determine whether this is an improved answer that allows for progress or not.” 

Two senior Israeli officials told Channel 12, "Contrary to the optimistic atmosphere, there is no progress; in fact, the situation is one of Hamas hardening its positions on most aspects of the negotiations, from the withdrawal lines to the number of hostages and ending with the elimination of American aid."

Another official told the channel, "We are examining Hamas's response, but there are still gaps around the keys for prisoner releases, and the withdrawal lines. It does not look like something that will allow for rapid progress at the moment, but we are trying to understand whether it is possible to find bridges that will bypass the obstacles. "

A report in Channel 14 described Hamas' answer to the Israeli proposal as a flat rejection, stating, “Hamas is effectively rejecting an unprecedented Israeli proposal, with far-reaching concessions.” 

At the same time, reports in Israeli and international media indicate that special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff still has no immediate plans to head to Doha, Qatar, nor to meet with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Italy, as had been reported on Wednesday. 

The expectation is that Witkoff and Dermer will only meet if some of the existing gaps are overcome.

"If possible, Dermer will meet with Wittkoff," the senior official told Channel 12.

"He is preparing, but it is not certain that there will be a meeting. It will not happen if the gaps remain large. If they can be reduced, then certainly it will. At the moment, the situation is that the answer is still being examined. It is a long and detailed answer, and it is not just that it is studied for many hours. We learn what can be included in it and what cannot."

This followed reports in Hebrew media on Wednesday evening, according to which the mediators from Qatar and Egypt had rejected a first response they received from Hamas, refusing to forward it to Israel.

The Jerusalem Post reported that a previous response by Hamas was not even relayed to the Israeli delegation, as the mediators did not consider it a serious answer. 

The Post reported that the terror group’s representatives were told by Egypt and Qatar that their first response was not serious and needed to be reworked. 

In that response, Hamas was continuing to demand that all aid into the Gaza Strip be handled by the UN and its NGO partners, as well as demanding an almost total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

According to a report in Israel Hayom, the current Hamas response still demands the closure of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the transfer of aid solely through the UN and its partners, even though the UN has almost completely ceased humanitarian deliveries over the past two weeks. 

Nearly 950 aid trucks are waiting at the border, ready to support the people of Gaza.

So who’s holding them back?

The UN.

While Israel facilitates the entry of humanitarian aid and the @GHFUpdates delivers it directly to civilians in Gaza, the UN is obstructing the efficient… pic.twitter.com/vlvgN6ECcX

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) July 23, 2025

Ynet reported that Hamas also continues to demand an IDF withdrawal equivalent to the January 2025 ceasefire agreement, which Israel rejects. The terror group has been divided over whether to take a firmer stance in negotiations with Israel, or to soften in the hope of recuperating its forces during the 60-day ceasefire. 

U.S. President Donald Trump’s Palestinian-American mediator in the hostage talks, Bishara Bahbah, accused Hamas of unnecessarily delaying progress in the talks. 

“For days, mediators have been awaiting Hamas's response, and the procrastination that is taking place costs the Palestinian people dozens of victims daily,” Bahbah wrote to 𝕏 in an Arabic post. 

“There is no convincing reason for delaying the response or demanding non-essential amendments, as long as there are 60 days of negotiations without victims and bloodshed, during which all details can be discussed,” Bahbah continued.

“Enough with the procrastination and continued bloodshed.”