Hamas responded to U.S.-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.

The proposal would reportedly see 28 Israeli hostages – alive and dead – returned in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

Witkoff rejected the notion that Hamas had accepted the offer for a hostage deal and a ceasefire in Gaza, as did an Israeli official.