White House envoy sends new proposal to Hamas through Israeli peace activistAxios, Sep 7, 2025
White House envoy Steve Witkoff sent a new proposal last week to Hamas for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal through an Israeli peace activist, two sources with direct knowledge told Axios.
Why it matters:The new U.S. proposal aims to find a diplomatic solution ahead of the massive offensive Israel is planning to launch to occupy Gaza City.
Driving the news: On Friday, President Trump said the U.S. is "in deep negotiations with Hamas" on a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.
* He stressed the U.S. message to Hamas is: "If you immediately release the hostages, good things are going to happen, but if you don't — it is going to be tough and nasty for you."
* Trump comments came as the Israeli military began flattening high-rise buildings in Gaza City that it claims are used by Hamas for military purposes.
* It marked the first major phase in Israel's new offensive to occupy Gaza City, which the government says is aimed at rooting out Hamas. The operation — backed by Trump — is expected to escalate in the coming days.
Zoom in: The new proposal includes the release of all 48 remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire and the end of the Israeli operation to occupy Gaza, according to a senior Israeli official familiar with the details.
* In addition, Israel will release 2500-3000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in its prisons, including hundreds serving life sentences for killing Israelis.
*According to the proposal, once the ceasefire is declared, negotiations would immediately begin on the conditions for ending the war — including Israel's demands for Hamas' disarmament and Hamas' demand for a final and complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip, the Israeli official said.
* The proposal emphasized that if Hamas responds positively to the initiative, Trump would actively work to end the war, and the ceasefire would continue as long as negotiations on the terms for the war's end are ongoing.
* The Israeli official said the proposal to Hamas included a message that if the organization does not accept the initiative, the alternative would be very bad: a large-scale Israeli operation in Gaza.
Behind the scenes: Last Sunday, Witkoff played golf with Trump and discussed the situation around the Gaza war.
* Two sources with knowledge of the meeting said Trump instructed Witkoff to give a renewed push to reach a deal to end the war and release all remaining hostages.
* Witkoff then asked Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who has been a back channel to Hamas in recent months, to tell the group that if they release all the hostages, Trump will make sure the war ends.
* Bahbah delivered the message to Hamas and came back to Witkoff later in the week with a message from Hamas expressing willingness to go for a comprehensive deal.
* Hamas stressed in the message that the release of hostages must take place simultaneously with a declaration of a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a source with knowledge said.
More:
https://www.axios.com/2025/09/07/us-israel-hamas-ceasefire-talks
