In brief
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Hamas's claim of readiness for a 'comprehensive deal' aimed at concluding the Gaza war, asserting that negotiations would not move forward until all hostages were released. Hamas has called for an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and other terms, but Israel insists on demilitarization and security control over Gaza as prerequisites for any agreement. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate with increased military action from Israel.
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 said.
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, Israeli forces withdraw, border crossings reopened, and the start of reconstruction.
The group also said it agreed to the formation of an administration run by independent technocrats to govern post-war Gaza.
It issued the statement on Tuesday evening, hours after US President Donald Trump wrote on social media: 'Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!'
Last month, Hamas said it had accepted a plan from regional mediators Qatar and Egypt that would see 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages released during a 60-day truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails.
Israel has yet to formally respond to the proposal – a decision that Egypt said on Tuesday reflected 'a complete absence of Israeli will for de-escalation and achieving calm and peace'.
Netanyahu announced Israel's intention to conquer all of Gaza after indirect negotiations with Hamas on an earlier proposal broke down in July, following a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, which marked the beginning of the ongoing conflict. The situation remains tense and continues to develop rapidly.
