ISTANBUL

Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday rejected reports that Hamas accepted his Gaza ceasefire proposal, contradicting Palestinian sources who claimed the group agreed to the deal, according to Axios.

Earlier in the day, a Palestinian source told Anadolu that Hamas accepted Witkoff's Gaza ceasefire proposal "to serve the interest of our people and halt the ongoing genocide."

However, Witkoff disputed these claims in comments to Axios, saying: "What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable."

The US envoy outlined terms for a temporary ceasefire and hostage deal that would see a 45 to 60-day ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 10 living hostages and 19 deceased hostages.

"That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it," Witkoff told Axios, adding he agreed to preside over substantive negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.

An earlier ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect Jan. 19 as part of a phased agreement involving prisoner exchanges. Israel abandoned the deal, mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt, on March 18.

Israel's military offensive in Gaza since October 2023 has killed nearly 54,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.