By Euronews
Published on
•Updated
Hamas on Monday told mediators that it approves of the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal, according to international and Israeli outlets, citing Hamas officials.
The officials did not provide further details at this time.
Israeli media report that the latest proposal was presented to the militant group the day before and was a revised version of Hamas’ latest response, which involved a framework agreement for a 60-day ceasefire and a two-step release of Hamas-held hostages.
Egyptian and Qatari mediators were holding talks with Hamas in their latest effort to broker a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz reacted to the news on Monday by saying Hamas was open to discussing the deal to release the remaining hostages “only because of its fear that we seriously intend to conquer Gaza City.”
Speaking to senior IDF officers on Monday, Katz said taking control of Gaza City “will lead to the defeat of Hamas,” Israeli media reported.
“The leadership is there, and there remain the central infrastructures of the military wing. Hamas also knows that this is now the core of its rule,” Katz added.
Israel announced plans to take complete control of Gaza City after ceasefire talks appeared to break down. The move raised further international concerns amid fears of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which experts say is sliding into famine.
US President Donald Trump appeared to cast doubt on these talks, posting on social media: “We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed.”
“The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be,” Trump emphasised.