WASHINGTON/GAZA - The White House said on Thursday that Israel has signed off on a 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposal as Israeli army continues its military actions in the war-torn area.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed at a press briefing that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump "submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas that Israel backed and supported".
"Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas. I can also confirm that those discussions are continuing, and we hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home," said Leavitt.
"I won't comment further, as we are in the midst of this right now," she added.
An Israeli official and a US source familiar with the case confirmed that the proposed deal includes not only the 60-day ceasefire but also plans to release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 dead hostages, CBS News reported.
ALSO READ: Hamas says reached agreement with US envoy over Gaza ceasefire framework
Hamas said Thursday that its leadership had received a new Gaza ceasefire proposal from Witkoff through the mediators and was studying it, even though it does not meet the core demands of the movement and the Palestinian people.
Basem Naim, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said the Israeli position fails to address key Palestinian demands, including a complete cessation of hostilities and the lifting of the long-standing blockade on Gaza.
He said the proposal would allow for the continuation of "the occupation" and humanitarian suffering, even during any temporary truce.
"Nevertheless, the movement's leadership is evaluating the proposal with a sense of national responsibility, particularly in light of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people," Naim said.
READ MORE: Chaos at Gaza aid center on first day under Israeli oversight; UN voices concern
Hamas stated earlier that it had received the updated ceasefire proposal through mediators and was assessing it in a way that reflects the interests of the Palestinian people and aims to achieve lasting peace and relief for Gaza residents.
According to Palestinian sources, at least 33 Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and central Gaza.
An Israeli drone strike on Thursday afternoon targeted a gathering at al-Saraya Junction, one of the busiest intersections in central Gaza City, killing at least 10 Palestinians and injuring dozens of others, local medical sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua.
Also on Thursday, eyewitnesses told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes fired at least two missiles at a residential home belonging to the Al-Qarnawi family east of the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, destroying the house with its residents inside and causing significant damage to neighboring houses.
READ MORE: Chinese envoy calls for durable Gaza ceasefire
Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense, told Xinhua that at least 23 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and several others injured in the airstrike.
Israel's renewed offensive on Gaza, which began on March 18, has so far killed 3,986 Palestinians and injured 11,451 others, Gaza's health authorities said on Thursday.
