Gaza, May 31 -- Hamas said on Saturday that it submitted its response to the mediators regarding a recent Gaza ceasefire proposal put forward by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

"After conducting a round of national consultations and based on our deep responsibility toward our people and their suffering," Hamas submitted its response to Witkoff's latest proposal to the mediators, it said in a statement.

"Under this agreement, ten living Israeli hostages held by Hamas will be released, in addition to the handover of 18 bodies of hostages, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners," Hamas said.

The proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza St...