• Hamas claims agreement with US envoy Steve Witkoff on Gaza ceasefire framework.
• The deal reportedly includes a 70-day ceasefire and the release of 10 hostages.
• Both the US and Israeli government deny any agreement was reached.
• Ongoing Israeli military operations continue despite humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
• Hamas maintains that the terms include conditions for a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid access.

Hamas has declared that it reached an agreement with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff regarding a framework for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. According to Hamas, this agreement includes a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region and assurance for the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid. Additionally, they stated, "We would release 10 live Israeli hostages in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners" under guarantees from mediators, which would involve establishing a committee to oversee Gaza's affairs after the ceasefire is declared, according to AA and TRT Global.

However, both Israeli and US officials have rejected Hamas' claims. Witkoff himself expressed disappointment with the proposals received from Hamas, describing them as “completely unacceptable”. An unnamed Israeli official categorized the notion of any agreement as "propaganda and psychological warfare," firmly denying that the agreement existed, as reported by India Times and Channel News Asia.

As fighting continues, Israel's military operations have intensified, resulting in significant casualties. Reports indicate that since the resumption of conflict in March, over 54,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed due to Israeli bombardments. This siege has left Gaza on the brink of famine, as noted by medical sources who confirm a dire humanitarian crisis, according to Al Jazeera and AA.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of disarming Hamas and securing the return of all Israeli captives. With approximately 58 hostages remaining in Gaza, Netanyahu's government faces mounting pressure internally and internationally to reach a resolution, while Hamas has linked the cessation of hostilities to the release of these captives and broader prisoner exchanges, as articulated by reports from Al Jazeera and India Times.