CAIRO/JERUSALEM: Hamas responded to US-backed ceasefire proposals on Saturday, saying it had agreed to release 28 living and dead hostages but restating its demand for an end to the war and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. A separate Hamas statement said the proposal aims for a permanent ceasefire.Israel had earlier accepted the US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Israeli officials familiar with the matter said would involve a 60-day pause in fighting and restore United Nations-led aid distribution to the Palestinian territory.The Palestinian militant group said it would release 10 living hostages and hand over the bodies of 18 dead in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli prisons. A Hamas official described the group’s response to the proposals from US President Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff as “positive” but said it was seeking some amendments. Arab ministers condemn ‘ban’ on West Bank visitThe foreign ministers of several Arab countries, who had planned to visit the occupied West Bank this weekend, condemned on Saturday Israel’s decision to block their trip. The ministers condemned “Israel’s decision to ban the delegation’s visit to Ramallah (on Sunday) to meet with the president of the State of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas”, the Jordanian foreign ministry said. Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain had been expected to take part alongside the secretary-general of Arab League.Israel said Friday it would not cooperate, effectively blocking the visit as it controls the territory’s borders and airspace.
