Israel Demands Release of All Captives in Blow to Hamas-Approved Truce Proposal

The Israeli regime has demanded the release of all 50 captives held by Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza, in an apparent blow to a new truce proposal that was already approved by Hamas.

Israeli cabinet spokesperson David Mencer told the BBC on Tuesday that the regime is not interested in “partial deals.”

“Things have changed now. The prime minister has laid out a plan for the future of Gaza,” Mencer said, referring to Benjamin Netanyahu’s plot to forcibly displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and occupy the territory, beginning with the takeover of Gaza City.

Hamas announced on Monday that it had approved the Gaza truce proposal put forward by Qatar and Egypt to end the Israeli regime’s genocidal war on Gaza.

“Hamas, along with the Palestinian factions, relayed their acceptance of the proposal put forward yesterday by the Qatari and Egyptian mediators,” the group said in a brief statement.

The proposed deal comes after negotiations between Hamas, Egyptian, and Qatari officials in Cairo and is reported to be nearly identical to the one that was put forward by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and was accepted by Israel.

Over the past two years, Hamas has accepted proposals for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners. But Israel has rejected them, pressing ahead with its military campaign in Gaza, which the regime is now expanding by moving to take over Gaza City.

The major sticking point has been the duration of the ceasefire. Hamas wants a permanent end to the war, but Israel seeks a temporary truce that would allow it to resume its military operations.