“A US source familiar with the Steve Witkoff negotiations tells Al Jazeera that the Hamas claims are ‘inaccurate’, and that Hamas has not agreed to a ceasefire proposal,” Kimberly Halkett reports from Washington, DC.

“In fact, what the US does see from Hamas is ‘disappointing and completely unacceptable’.

Instead of an agreement with Hamas, what the United States says is that there is a temporary ceasefire agreement proposal with the Israelis, and what this would do is allow for half of the living captives, as well as half of the deceased, to be returned, Halkett reports.

“In turn, the White House believes this would lead towards a diplomatic path of discussions that could result in a permanent ceasefire.

“And this is the deal that the source tells Al Jazeera is what Hamas should take.”