Hamas awaits Israeli response to Gaza ceasefire framework reached with US envoy Witkoff

Hamas said that it had reached an agreement with US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on a “general framework” for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and was awaiting a final response from Israel. The agreement involves the release of 10 Israeli hostages and a number of bodies, in exchange for the freeing of an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, guaranteed by mediators, the group said. Hamas said that that the framework would secure a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the flow of humanitarian aid and a committee of independent Palestinian technocrats assuming governing control over the enclave instead of Hamas, once the agreement is declared.