Israel has rejected a statement from Hamas saying the armed group is ready for a 'comprehensive deal' to end the Gaza war and free all its hostages.
This is more spin by Hamas that has nothing new, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated.
It insisted the war would end only once the 48 hostages - 20 of whom are believed to be alive - were released, Hamas was disarmed, Gaza was demilitarised, Israel had security control, and an 'alternative civilian administration' was established.
Hamas reiterated its call for a deal that would see hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, reopening of border crossings, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts.
The group also proposed the formation of a government led by responsible technocrats for Gaza post-war.
Hamas issued this statement shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump urged that all 20 hostages should be returned for significant changes to occur. Trump's social media remarks emphasized immediate action, saying, 'Things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!'
Israel’s Defense Minister stated that the military was preparing fully for an operation in Gaza.
In the context of the ongoing conflict, Hamas had previously accepted a plan from regional mediators that involved releasing 10 living hostages and the remains of deceased hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
However, Israel has yet to formally respond to this proposal, a situation which Egypt described as a lack of will for de-escalation.
As Israel continues its military actions in Gaza, family members of hostages are growing concerned about their safety and are advocating for a negotiation to secure their release instead of escalating hostilities.
The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with the UN warning of severe conditions resulting from the ongoing conflict.
