Photo by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash
Starvation as a Weapon: Gaza’s Deepening Humanitarian Nightmare
The Gaza Strip is enduring what international aid organizations describe as one of the most severe humanitarian crises in modern history. With Israel’s near-total blockade preventing the entry of food, medicine, and essential supplies, widespread hunger has gripped the population, and the specter of famine looms. The deliberate restriction of aid has led to accusations that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war—a potential violation of international law that could constitute a war crime. Hospitals, already crippled by months of bombardment, now face catastrophic shortages of medical supplies, while the UN warns that acute malnutrition among children has reached alarming levels.
US-Brokered Ceasefire Proposal: A Temporary Lifeline for Gaza
According to an exclusive Reuters report, the United States has put forward a 60-day ceasefire proposal that includes a phased hostage-prisoner exchange and the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The plan, reportedly backed by President Donald Trump and mediated through Egypt and Qatar, hinges on Hamas’s acceptance.
Documents obtained by Safa News Agency reveal that the US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, presented the proposal to Israeli officials on May 28. Under its terms, Hamas would release 10 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 deceased captives in two stages—half on the first day of the agreement and the remaining half on the seventh day. In return, Israel would allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza and pause military operations for 60 days.
However, Hamas has responded with its own demands, insisting that any ceasefire must include guarantees of a permanent end to Israel’s military campaign and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The group has also called for unimpeded humanitarian access through UN agencies, arguing that past temporary truces have failed to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians.
Photo source : Toa Heftiba on Unsplash (Israeli solders )
Hamas Rejects US Framework, Demands Binding Commitments
In a statement, senior Hamas official Naim outlined the group’s conditions for accepting any deal, emphasizing that a temporary pause in fighting without a clear path to a permanent resolution is insufficient. Hamas seeks assurances that negotiations during the 60-day period would lead to a complete cessation of hostilities and the lifting of Israel’s siege.
Witkoff, responding on social media platform X, dismissed Hamas’s counterproposal as “totally unacceptable” and accused the group of obstructing progress.
The Unconventional Envoy: Steve Witkoff’s Controversial Role
Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate mogul with no prior diplomatic experience, was appointed by Trump as Special Envoy to the Middle East in 2025—a move that raised eyebrows in foreign policy circles. His blunt, dealmaker approach has been both praised and criticized, with some crediting him for brokering a short-lived January 2025 ceasefire and others blaming him for unrealistic proposals that prolonged the conflict.
Witkoff played a central role in negotiating the January 2025 truce, which saw the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, his subsequent “Witkoff Plan”—a revised proposal that would have allowed Israel to resume military operations after 50 days—was flatly rejected by Hamas, leading to a collapse in talks and a resumption of heavy fighting.
In recent months, Witkoff has publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for prioritizing the destruction of Hamas over the return of hostages, a rare rebuke from a US official. His unconventional style, including an unannounced visit to Gaza in January 2025, has drawn both admiration and skepticism, with some questioning whether his lack of diplomatic finesse has hindered rather than helped negotiations.
Photo source : facebook.com/Whitehouse (US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and vice President JD Vance).
US-Hamas Engagement Sparks Israeli Alarm
The Trump administration’s indirect engagement with Hamas through Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries has already strained relations with Israel, but Witkoff’s direct involvement in talks has further unsettled officials in Tel Aviv. Some Israeli commentators view Washington’s outreach as a sign of frustration with Netanyahu’s refusal to commit to a long-term ceasefire, with US officials increasingly vocal about their concerns over Israel’s open-ended military campaign.
Meanwhile, Trump’s suggestion in the beginning of his 2nd presidency, of relocating Gaza’s population and redeveloping the territory as a luxury resort—an idea once promoted by his son-in-law Jared Kushner—has drawn sharp condemnation from Palestinian leaders and human rights groups, who accuse the former president of endorsing forced displacement.
Hamas’s Shifting Strategy: Between Resistance and Pragmatism
Founded in 1987 during the First Intifada, Hamas has long maintained an uncompromising stance toward Israel, with its original charter calling for the liberation of all historic Palestine. However, the group has shown signs of tactical flexibility in recent years, including its 2017 revised charter accepting a Palestinian state within 1967 borders—though it still refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist.
The current war has forced Hamas into a delicate balancing act, attempting to leverage hostage negotiations to secure a lasting ceasefire while maintaining its credibility as a resistance movement. Its demands for a full Israeli withdrawal and a permanent end to hostilities reflect both its strategic goals and the desperate humanitarian reality on the ground in Gaza.
A Race Against Time
With Gaza’s civilian population on the brink of famine and international pressure mounting, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the U.S. proposal can break the deadlock. If Hamas and Israel cannot reach an agreement, the already staggering death toll—which has surpassed 52,810 deaths according to Gaza Health ministry—along with 119,473 Palestinians injured, 2.3 million facing hunger and internal displacement since October 2023, will continue to rise, deepening one of the 21st century’s most devastating humanitarian tragedies.
