Rubio: Trump Rejects Hamas Ceasefire Offer, Demands Full Release of Gaza Hostages

Washington, D.C. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the White House has not received a reported Hamas letter proposing a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for releasing half of the remaining Gaza hostages, emphasizing that President Donald Trump would reject any deal short of the full release of all 48 hostages, including 20 believed to be alive and 28 deceased.

“We haven’t seen the letter. We don’t have that letter, and even if we did, it wouldn’t matter,” Rubio said on a morning television program. “The president has already made clear he’s not interested in 60 days, 10 people. He wants all the hostages out. … They should all be released immediately. Period.”

Rubio suggested the reported Hamas offer, which a senior Trump official and a source involved in negotiations said was drafted for delivery this week, may have been shared with the media rather than the administration. The proposal follows Trump’s demand last week in the United Kingdom for the immediate release of all hostages, and a Sept. 7 Truth Social post where he issued his “last warning” to Hamas, urging acceptance of his terms to end the conflict.

Rubio warned that if Hamas does not surrender and release the hostages, Israeli forces, now advancing on Gaza City where Hamas leaders are concentrated, would continue their operation. “It may take a while, but they’re not going to survive the Israeli push,” he said, noting that peace and rebuilding efforts in Gaza cannot begin until Hamas disarms and releases all hostages.

“The sooner that happens, the sooner peace will begin,” Rubio added