Partial deals won’t cut it. Jerusalem demands full hostage return and the defeat of Hamas—not photo ops or false peace prizes bought with Israeli blood. The bastardized Witkoff plan is just another in a long line of bait-and-switch maneuvers.

The Israeli government has rejected the latest ceasefire and hostage-release proposal reportedly mediated by U.S. officials and accepted in principle by Hamas.The Israeli government has rejected the latest ceasefire and hostage-release proposal reportedly mediated by U.S. officials and accepted in principle by Hamas.

According to senior Israeli officials, the proposal—said to include a 70-day ceasefire and the release of ten hostages—was fundamentally flawed. “The proposal received by Israel cannot be accepted by any responsible government,” a senior source said bluntly, noting that Hamas’s demands would “mean a complete failure to meet the war goals, and an inability to release the hostages.”

While some media outlets portrayed the offer as a breakthrough, Israeli officials warned it was little more than a tactical pause for Hamas disguised as humanitarian concern—a bastardized version of the original Witkoff outline.

Witkoff Plan Corrupted Beyond Recognition

The reported deal was said to be based loosely on the “Witkoff outline,” a U.S.-driven initiative originally put forth by President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. Under this plan, Hamas would release ten Israeli hostages over a 70-day period—five on the first day, five on the seventh—in return for a suspension of Israeli military operations and an unprecedented influx of humanitarian aid: 1,000 trucks per day.

Israeli sources emphasized that the latest offer is “very far” from what Witkoff initially proposed. “There is no genuine willingness on Hamas’s part to move forward with a deal. Israel remains committed to the original Witkoff framework,” the official added.

The proposal also included provisions for a U.S.-guaranteed ceasefire, negotiations toward a technocratic government in Gaza, and a so-called “path to permanent peace.” For Israel, such language amounts to nothing more than a smokescreen—an attempt to paint over Hamas’s unchanged terrorist intent with diplomatic gloss.

“This is a pig with lipstick,” an Israeli security official remarked. “And everyone sees the snout sticking out.”

Hamas: Demanding Concessions While Holding Civilians

Israeli leadership was particularly alarmed by the demand for an immediate and massive influx of humanitarian aid—1,000 trucks per day—without credible oversight to ensure Hamas wouldn’t siphon off supplies. The deal also failed to include any real guarantee of disarmament or de-radicalization.

Moreover, Hamas demanded the release of all prisoners captured in Gaza, including terrorists apprehended after October 7, 2023—the date when Hamas invaded southern Israel, murdering over 1,200 civilians in cold blood and taking more than 250 hostages.

Israeli officials warned that Hamas was essentially attempting to achieve through negotiation what it failed to achieve through massacre and rocket fire. “We will not reward barbarism with legitimacy,” said one cabinet minister.

Hostage Families: No Partial Deals

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of those still held in Gaza, also blasted the reported deal. “It is again the same dangerous concept that seeks to continue the war at any price, for nothing,” the group said in a statement.

“Partial deals are a loss for Israel that can, and must, be avoided. There is only one suitable and desirable solution: a comprehensive agreement that will bring back all the 58 hostages and end the war.”

The organization’s stance aligns closely with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has publicly stated that the war will not end until all hostages are returned and Hamas is dismantled.

Trump Pushes for Ceasefire, Netanyahu Holds Line

U.S. President Donald Trump—back in office after the 2024 elections—has expressed growing frustration over the stalemate in Gaza. “We want to see if we can stop that whole situation,” he said over the weekend, adding that “real progress” had been made with Hamas.

But Netanyahu has so far resisted pressure, recalling Israel’s negotiating team from Doha last week and reiterating that the war will continue until Hamas is destroyed, its leaders removed, and its ability to govern or wage war eliminated.

“We are not seeking endless conflict,” Netanyahu said in a May 22 address. “We are seeking a future in which October 7 can never happen again. That requires victory—not illusions of peace.”

International Pressure and Propaganda

While Israel faces mounting pressure from some international actors to increase humanitarian aid and halt military operations, its officials argue that such pressure is often manipulated by Hamas and its allies.

A UN official’s recent claim that “14,000 babies could die within 48 hours” if aid was not increased drew ridicule in Jerusalem. “This is not humanitarian advocacy. This is propaganda wrapped in baby clothes,” said one IDF spokesman. “It cheapens real suffering and plays into the hands of terrorists.”

Israel has resumed limited aid delivery, but remains cautious. “Every truck must be checked. Every route must be monitored. Otherwise, we’re just feeding Hamas,” said National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Gaza Situation Dire—But Who’s to Blame?

There is no question the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is real. But Israeli officials emphasize that the blame lies squarely with Hamas, which has used hospitals, mosques, and schools to store weapons and shield fighters—tactics that all but guarantee civilian casualties.

“Hamas’s goal is not to protect Palestinians—it’s to destroy Israelis,” said an IDF field commander currently operating in northern Gaza. “They exploit humanitarian concern to buy time and regroup.”

As of late May, 58 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas and other terror factions. At least 35 are confirmed dead, and 20 are believed to be alive. The fate of three others is unclear.

No Peace Without Victory

Despite mounting noise from foreign capitals and protest tents outside the Kirya in Tel Aviv, the Israeli government’s stance remains firm: the war will not end until the goals are achieved.

“We are fighting not for vengeance but for survival,” said an official in the Prime Minister’s Office. “We won’t be drawn into photo-op diplomacy that leaves Hamas breathing. We’ve been down that road before. This time, it ends with their defeat.”

Conclusion: Don’t Be Fooled by Lipstick

The “bastardized Witkoff Plan” is just another in a long line of attempts to buy quiet at Israel’s expense. It may play well on the evening news, but Israeli leaders—across the political spectrum—see it for what it is: a trap.

As one senior IDF commander put it: “No deal is better than a bad deal. And this one? This was diplomatic disaster inviting future security disasters, a diaper doused with cheap perfume.”