US Envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday said that Hamas must accept the current ceasefire proposal to ensure the remaining hostages are returned. 

"Although those who were murdered can never be replaced, this closure is absolutely critical and a minimum of human dignity," Witkoff said.

The head of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said in a pre-recorded speech on Thursday that the group had not rejected the latest US proposal for a ceasefire with Israel but demanded changes that would secure the end of the war in the enclave.

The terror group was ready to engage in a new round of ceasefire talks, and communication with mediating countries was ongoing, he added. The latest US proposal came via Witkoff.

"The movement (Hamas) didn't reject the Witkoff proposal, but we have demanded some remarks and improvement to ensure an end to the war," Hayya, who is also chief Hamas negotiator, said in a pre-recorded video speech.

Hayya reiterated demands for an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, conditions Israel has rejected.

IDF retrieves bodies of two hostages 

The bodies of hostages Judith Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gadi Haggai, were retrieved by the IDF in the early hours of Thursday morning in a special forces operation performed in collaboration with intelligence from the Shin Bet and the IDF, the military announced. They held American and Canadian citizenships. 

The Mujahideen Brigades kidnapped and held the bodies of the two in Gaza after they were murdered on October 7 in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their deaths were determined in December 2023.

IDF forces carried out the rescue operation under the Southern Command. The information that allowed their retrieval into Israeli territory was learned during an interrogation of a captured terrorist. 

Negotiations continue between Israel and Hamas

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, are ongoing despite significant gaps, a source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met with senior Hamas officials based in Doha. These officials emphasized that Hamas demands US guarantees that negotiations for a deal, including a ceasefire, will continue after the initial 60-day period, the source told the Post.

Efforts are being made to reach new understandings with Hamas before Eid al-Adha, which begins on Friday. In Doha, Bishara Bahbah, an envoy of Steve Witkoff, continued to engage with senior Hamas officials.

The mediators, Egypt, Qatar, and the US administration, are working to advance a deal or at least secure agreements between the parties despite the challenges.

Jerusalem Post Staff and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.