Israel demands release of all Gaza hostages despite new ceasefire proposal, says it’s ‘in the final stage of defeating Hamas’

Israel is demanding the release of all 50 hostages held in Gaza, casting doubt on whether it will accept a new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that Hamas agreed to on Monday. The militant group accepted the latest proposal from Egyptian and Qatari mediators, which would see around half the hostages released during the initial phase.

An Israeli official said the country’s stance was “in accordance with the principles set by the cabinet to end the war,” without explicitly rejecting the plan from mediators Qatar and Egypt. The proposal, which would see the release of around 10 living hostages and 18 bodies, is “almost identical” to a US proposal Israel had previously accepted, according to Qatar.

According to the BBC, Israeli officials stated they are “in the final stage of defeating Hamas and will not leave any hostages behind.” This position suggests Israel may want to negotiate further, despite Hamas backing down from many of the demands that led to the collapse of talks last month.

Netanyahu faces pressure from coalition partners and families

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented publicly on the proposal, but he said on Monday that Hamas was “under immense pressure.” His far-right coalition partners want to keep the war going until Hamas’s defeat. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel must not accept a partial deal “that abandons half of the hostages.”

Meanwhile, hostages’ families want Netanyahu to agree to a deal with Hamas to end the war now. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is believed to be among those still alive in captivity, criticized Netanyahu for “deliberately setting unworkable conditions as an obstacle.” The ongoing political tensions reflect broader challenges in resolving international conflicts.

Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman said the proposal was “98%” similar to the one presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff in June. Israel accepted Witkoff’s plan, but Hamas rejected it because it did not include a guarantee that the temporary ceasefire would lead to a permanent one.

The current proposal would see Hamas release eight living hostages on day one and two more on day 50. In return, Israel would release 1,500 detainees from Gaza as well as 150 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. Israeli forces would also withdraw to areas located between 800 meters and 1.2 kilometers from the Gaza perimeter, but would remain in the southern corridors.

The Israeli cabinet is expected to approve the military’s plan to occupy Gaza City later this week. The complex geopolitical situation has drawn international attention as mediators struggle to find common ground. The Israeli military launched its campaign in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.