Hamas has presented a new ceasefire proposal that includes the release of hostages, following renewed diplomatic discussions that coincided with a major Israeli military operation in Gaza.
According to a Palestinian source speaking to the BBC, Hamas has offered to free nine hostages in return for a 60-day ceasefire, along with the release of Palestinian detainees from Israeli custody. The proposed deal also includes daily access for 400 aid trucks and the evacuation of medical patients from the territory.
Israel, however, has requested confirmation that the hostages are alive and has demanded detailed information on those still being held.
The latest round of negotiations is being facilitated by Qatari and U.S. mediators in Doha and began on Saturday afternoon.
While Israel has yet to formally respond to the offer, officials have maintained that they will not withdraw military forces from Gaza or agree to a permanent end to the war. The BBC reports that these conditions are not included in Hamas’s proposal.
Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli military announced a new large-scale offensive in Gaza named “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” marking one of the deadliest periods of violence in recent months. Emergency responders report that more than 300 people have died since Thursday, with attacks targeting hospitals and refugee camps in both the northern and southern parts of Gaza.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has continued to deteriorate, as aid convoys have been largely blocked for over 10 weeks. Thousands have died since Israel resumed military operations in mid-March, following the collapse of a previous two-month ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently vowed to escalate the conflict, declaring intentions to occupy sections of Gaza, push the population southward, and dismantle Hamas. Speaking to the BBC, journalist Ghada Al Qurd described the conditions on the ground as “terrifying,” noting constant bombardment and the severe lack of food.
“We’re only eating one meal a day,” she said, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon — a charge echoed by UN officials.
Relief organizations warn that Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are at risk of famine. Images and reports show malnourished children and a healthcare system on the brink of collapse.
British surgeon Victoria Rose, working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, told BBC Radio 4 that medical staff are overworked and undernourished, and that many children suffer from malnutrition, dental issues, and severe burn wounds exacerbated by poor healing conditions.
Netanyahu had announced on May 5 that Israel would initiate a full-scale incursion into Gaza but would wait until former U.S. President Donald Trump finished a regional tour. Trump departed the Middle East on Friday, the same day the military instructed residents of northern and central Gaza to evacuate—an order aid groups say is nearly impossible to comply with, given widespread displacement.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated on Saturday that operations would continue until Hamas is neutralized and all hostages are recovered. In the past 24 hours alone, the military claims to have hit more than 150 targets across Gaza.
Airstrikes were reported in Beit Lahiya, Jabalia refugee camp, and Khan Younis. Thousands of Israeli troops, including reservists, are expected to be deployed in the coming days, and tanks have been observed near the Gaza border.
The escalation has drawn criticism from the United Nations and several European leaders. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini condemned the scale of destruction, asking: “How many more Palestinian lives must be lost to airstrikes, starvation, or lack of medical care?”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani have all called for a lasting ceasefire. Germany’s foreign ministry warned that the new offensive could further deepen the humanitarian crisis for civilians and the remaining hostages.
Israel launched its military campaign against Hamas following the group’s deadly cross-border assault on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. As of now, Hamas is believed to still be holding 58 hostages.
Since the war began, over 53,000 people have died in Gaza, including more than 3,000 since March, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Source: BBC
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