In a significant development, Hamas has turned down an Israeli proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, which included a request for the disarmament of the armed group. A senior Palestinian official involved in the discussions indicated that the proposal lacked essential commitments from Israel, such as an end to the ongoing conflict or a withdrawal of Israeli troops, both of which are crucial to Hamas in exchange for releasing a portion of the hostages in its custody.
As Israel’s military operations in Gaza persist, tensions remain high. Recently, an airstrike on a field hospital in Khan Younis resulted in the death of a security guard and injuries to nine others, according to the hospital’s reports. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strike targeted the head of a Hamas cell.
Humanitarian crisis deepens amid military actions
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reportedly reached critical levels, as noted by a United Nations agency. The organization warned that this period marks the most severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza since hostilities began 18 months ago. It has been over six weeks since Israel permitted any supplies to enter Gaza, marking the longest blockade to date. UN agencies have strongly disputed Israel’s assertion that sufficient food supplies exist in the region, suggesting that the ongoing blockade may violate international humanitarian law. Israel’s Prime Minister argued that the supply restrictions aim to compel Hamas to release hostages and agree to a prolonged ceasefire, which officially lapsed on March 1.
Furthermore, the UN’s humanitarian affairs office reported an alarming increase in attacks, resulting in mass civilian casualties and the destruction of critical infrastructure necessary for survival.
Ceasefire negotiations falter
Israel reportedly submitted its latest ceasefire proposal to regional mediators just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump. Following this, a Hamas delegation, led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, engaged with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo. The senior Palestinian official mentioned that the Israeli proposal, communicated through Egypt, explicitly required Hamas’s disarmament without any assurance of an end to hostilities or troop withdrawal from Gaza. Consequently, Hamas outright rejected the offer.
Notably, this marks the first instance in which Israel has conditioned a ceasefire on Hamas’s disarmament, a pivotal issue for the group. The Palestinian official accused Israel of delaying negotiations, asserting that the focus seemed to be on retrieving hostages rather than ceasing the conflict.
Currently, approximately 59 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza, with 24 confirmed alive. A statement from Hamas’s military wing indicated that they had “lost contact” with a group of fighters holding Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander following a reported strike on their location; however, no evidence was provided to support this claim.
“Hamas has expressed readiness to return all captives in exchange for a complete cessation of hostilities and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza,”
Moreover, Hamas has previously offered five hostages in exchange for an extension of the truce but claims to have displayed flexibility regarding the number of hostages to be released. It has come to light that Egypt has proposed a revised plan to Hamas, which they are currently evaluating.
Despite hopes for a ceasefire breakthrough, Israeli media reports indicate that such an agreement is not imminent. An unnamed senior security official in Israel mentioned, “We assess that there will be a deal within two to three weeks, but right now there are still gaps and the distance is great.”
Additionally, the IDF recommenced its bombardment of Gaza on March 18 and has since intensified ground operations aimed at Hamas, with Netanyahu asserting that any future ceasefire discussions would take place “under fire.” Since the escalation of hostilities, at least 1,630 individuals have been killed, with the total death toll over the past 18 months reaching 51,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
In a separate incident, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in al-Mawasi, killing a security guard and injuring several hospital staff and patients. The IDF stated that it targeted a Hamas terrorist cell, a claim that remains unverified.
As the military conflict continues, the humanitarian situation for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents worsens, with the UN reporting that nearly 400,000 Palestinians have been displaced since Israel resumed its offensive. Polls indicate that a majority of Israelis support a new ceasefire agreement, with an emphasis on the retrieval of hostages rather than the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities. However, Netanyahu faces pressure from hardline political factions, complicating efforts for a resolution.