An Israeli far-right minister has publicly called for the use of “full force” in Gaza, following Hamas’ rejection of a new truce proposal backed by the United States. This announcement comes amid ongoing negotiations to end nearly 20 months of conflict, which have yet to yield significant progress. Israeli military operations in Gaza intensified in March after a six-week ceasefire.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir took to his Telegram channel to express his frustration after Hamas again turned down the ceasefire deal. He urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take decisive action, stating, “There are no more excuses.” Ben Gvir emphasized the need for a robust military response, declaring that it was time to completely eradicate Hamas.
The White House also weighed in on the situation, noting that President Donald Trump and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had put forth a ceasefire proposal that reportedly received Israel’s backing. According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, discussions with Hamas regarding the proposal were ongoing. However, Israel has not officially confirmed its support for this latest initiative.
Hamas, for its part, indicated that while it had initially shown flexibility regarding a U.S.-sponsored deal, the recent version failed to address its core demands, particularly an end to hostilities. Political bureau member Bassem Naim described the current proposal as leading to “the continuation of killing and famine,” emphasizing that it does not meet the fundamental needs of the Palestinian people. Nevertheless, he mentioned that the leadership was reviewing the proposal thoughtfully.
Sources close to Hamas described the new offer as a “retreat” from a prior proposal that included a U.S. commitment to pursuing long-term ceasefire negotiations. This latest offer reportedly entails a 60-day truce, extendable to 70 days, while allowing for the release of five living hostages and nine deceased individuals in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in the first week. A second, similar exchange would occur in the second week of the truce.
As of now, 57 hostages remain in Gaza out of the 251 taken during the October 7 attack, with Israeli military claims suggesting that 34 are already deceased.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly, even as some aid has begun to filter through after a more than two-month Israeli blockade. Food security experts warn that one in five people in the territory faces starvation, and medical facilities are under immense pressure due to ongoing violence and shortages.
During this escalating crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for European countries to adopt a tougher stance against Israel if it fails to adequately address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Macron stressed the urgency of taking action in the “next few hours and days,” framing it as a collective European responsibility.
In its latest update, the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that around 3,986 individuals have been killed since Israel resumed significant military actions on March 18, raising the total death toll of the conflict to 54,249, predominantly civilians. In the initial attack that sparked the ongoing warfare, Hamas’ actions resulted in the deaths of 1,218 individuals, again mostly civilians, according to AFP figures compiled from official sources.
