Source says Hamas accepts ceasefire proposal, US envoy denies

A senior Hamas source said Monday that the group has agreed to a U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal, but U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff denied any deal has been done.

The source, who requested anonymity, said the U.S. proposal includes a temporary ceasefire for 60 days, during which a series of humanitarian and political steps will be implemented, paving the way for discussions on the possibility of reaching a permanent truce between the two sides.

The source added that the proposal includes the release of 10 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas, in exchange for the entry of urgent humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, amounting to 1,000 trucks during the truce period, under UN supervision and U.S. guarantees.

The source explained that, under the proposal, the U.S. pledged to launch comprehensive negotiations for a permanent ceasefire, including arrangements for the post-war phase, reconstruction, the reopening of crossings, and the establishment of an international mechanism to monitor any potential violations.

Hamas has yet to issue official statements regarding the proposal, but the source confirmed that the movement had informed mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, of its initial approval of the proposal.

According to the Axios news site, Witkoff denied that Hamas had accepted his proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israel has not yet announced its official position on the proposal, but Israeli media outlets have quoted officials as saying that Israel rejects the proposal and will not accept it.

Source says Hamas accepts ceasefire proposal, US envoy denies

Source says Hamas accepts ceasefire proposal, US envoy denies

President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that his country and China can build a mutually beneficial relationship amidst competitions.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lee will pay a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7. It will be Lee's first visit to China since he took office in June 2025.

In an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) in Seoul, capital of the ROK, on Wednesday, Lee said that the ROK and China both place great importance on the development of high-tech fields, and this inevitably creates competitions between the two countries, but will also presents ample cooperation opportunities for both sides.

"To my knowledge, the Chinese government has made tremendous efforts in high-tech investment, research and development investment, and the talent cultivation in the field of basic research, just as the ROK has done. From this perspective, the ROK and China share similarities in economic growth strategies, which certainly creates competitions between the two countries, but it also presents broad cooperation opportunities for both sides. I believe that if we can explore areas for cooperation amid competitions and enhance our respective strengths through cooperation, we can build a mutually beneficial relationship that not only supports China's sustainable development strategy but also promotes ROK's growth strategy," Lee said.

ROK president eyes mutually beneficial relationship with China amid competitions