Truce in Gaza: Israel continues to demand the release of “all hostages”

Israel continues to demand the release of “all hostages” retained in Gaza, a government source told AFP on Tuesday, after a new proposal from the mediators on a truce in the Palestinian territory providing for the return to two stages of these captives.

After more than 22 months of war, the Palestinian Islamist movement announced on Monday that it has accepted this proposal from the mediators-Egypt, Qatar and the United States-a 60-day truce with the release of hostages in two stages.

Israel “has not changed” politics and continues to “demand the release” of all the hostages “in accordance with the principles set by the cabinet (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) to end the war,” said the Israeli government source. “We are in the final decisive phase against Hamas and we will not leave any hostage behind us,” added this source, awaiting a formal Israeli response to the mediators.

The diplomatic revival intervened while the Israeli army launched its operations to take control of the city of Gaza and the neighboring refugee camps, with the displayed objective of ending Hamas and freeing all hostages.

Greeting the “very positive” response of Hamas, Qatar had pointed out earlier that the proposal “almost entirely” resumed an American plan previously accepted by Israel. Qatari diplomacy has however been careful not to speak of “breakthrough”.

The text is based on a previous plan of the American emissary Steve Witkoff: the release of ten living hostages and remains of 18 hostages died in exchange for a 60 -day truce, and negotiations to end the war, said public radio Kan.

“Hamas and (other) factions hope (…) that Netanyahu will not place obstacles and obstacles” to the implementation of the agreement, a member of the political office of the Islamist movement, Izzat al-Rishq told AFP.

Far -right ministers, such as that of national security Itamar Ben Gvir, have warned Benjamin Netanyahu not to “give in to Hamas”, believing that he “no mandate to conclude a partial agreement”.

“Unfortunately, today’s Zionist reactions reflect Netanyahu’s malicious intentions to continue the war, genocide and ethnic cleaning,” said Bassem Naïm, a senior Hamas official, in a statement published on Facebook.

Despite mediators’ efforts, the belligerents have so far failed to lead to a lasting ceasefire in the war that ravages Gaza, triggered in an unprecedented attack on Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023. Of the 251 hostages removed that day, 49 remain retained in Gaza, including 27 dead according to the Israeli army.

Two previous Truces in November 2023 and early 2025 had enabled the return of living hostages and died in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The new proposal comes as the Israeli security firm has approved a plan to conquer Gaza-Ville, presented Tuesday by the Defense Minister.

On the ground, the civil defense of Gaza reported at least 48 people killed across Palestinian territory, especially during Israeli strikes on the districts of Zeitoun and Al-Sabra, in Gaza-Ville.

“The explosions do not stop in Al-Sabra. The tanks and the artillery shoot us, but also the drones, ”a resident told AFP, Hussein al-Dairi.

The Israeli army said that its forces operated to dismantle the military capacities of Hamas.

According to a spokesperson, the army “respects international law and takes reasonable precautions to alleviate the damage caused to civilians”. She then clarified having led to Khan Younès (south) targeting a Hamas fighter.

The Israeli site Walla, citing a military expert, explains that “Division 99 is about to complete the conquest of the Zeitoun district, and that the” next target “will be the Sabra district.

Since the start of the war, Israel has been begging for more than two million Palestinians threatened with famine according to the UN in Gaza. Israel rejects the accusations of deliberate famine and claims to authorize the entry of more aid in the territory in the grip of humanitarian disaster.

The UN said on Tuesday that it was not allowed to deliver shelters, while the Israeli plans for taking control of the city of Gaza plan to move the inhabitants to the south.