The United States has proposed a “bridge” plan to extend the Hamas-Israel ceasefire beyond Ramzan and Passover, allowing additional time to negotiate a permanent resolution to the conflict, the White House stated.
According to the official statement, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and National Security Council official Eric Trager presented the proposal in Qatar on Wednesday.
“On Wednesday evening in Doha, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Eric Trager, Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the National Security Council, presented a ‘bridge’ proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramzan and Passover, allowing time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire,” the statement read.
The proposal calls for Hamas to continue releasing hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, following a previously used formula. It also facilitates the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
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“Under the ‘bridge’ proposal, Hamas would release living hostages in exchange for prisoners under previous formulas; the phase-one ceasefire would be extended to enable the resumption of significant humanitarian assistance; and the U.S. would work towards a durable solution to this intractable conflict during the extended ceasefire period,” the statement added.
Witkoff emphasised that mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, have made it clear to Hamas that the “bridge proposal” must be implemented swiftly.
“Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners, Hamas was told in no uncertain terms that this ‘bridge’ would have to be implemented soon—and that dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander would have to be released immediately,” he said.
Witkoff also expressed frustration over Hamas’s stance in negotiations, accusing the group of displaying public flexibility while making impractical demands behind closed doors.
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