Hamas on Saturday said that it has responded to a Gaza ceasefire plan put forward by the US, repeating its call for an end to the war, in a move the US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff called “totally unacceptable.

Hamas on Saturday said it had responded to a U.S. ceasefire proposal, saying in a brief statement that the group sought a permanent ceasefire, “a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip” and guarantees around the provision of aid to the enclave.

Officials said Hamas was seeking changes on guarantees for a permanent end to war. That has long been the core sticking point with Israel.