Israel is demanding the release of all 50 hostages held in Gaza, an Israeli official confirmed, casting doubt on a newly proposed 60-day ceasefire deal that Hamas had agreed to on Monday. The proposal, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, would see the release of about half of the hostages, which Israel has not yet fully accepted, with government officials stating they are not interested in “partial deals.”
Israeli spokesman David Mencer emphasized the country’s stance, saying the Israeli government is committed to securing the release of all 50 hostages, and not just a portion of them. “The prime minister has laid out a plan for the future of Gaza,” he stated, reinforcing Israel’s position.
The proposal on the table would see the release of 10 living and 18 dead hostages, with ongoing negotiations for a permanent ceasefire. However, Israel believes that only 20 of the 50 hostages remain alive after 22 months of conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reiterated its policy, stressing that Israel will not leave any hostages behind, and that its military actions in Gaza are intended to defeat Hamas once and for all.
Hamas, on the other hand, has agreed to the latest ceasefire proposal. A statement from the group confirmed that they would release eight living hostages on day one and two more on day 50. Five dead hostages would be handed over on days seven, 30, and 60. In exchange, Israel would release 1,500 detainees from Gaza, 150 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, and 50 others serving lengthy terms.
The proposal is seen as a continuation of the earlier plan put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff in June, with both Qatar and Egypt facilitating the talks. However, differences remain over details, with Israel insisting on the complete release of all hostages before agreeing to a ceasefire.
The Israeli cabinet is expected to approve plans to intensify military operations in Gaza City this week. As strikes in the region continue, thousands of people have fled, and humanitarian conditions have worsened. Netanyahu has faced significant pressure from his far-right coalition partners, who demand continued military action until Hamas is fully defeated and Gaza is annexed.
On the other hand, families of the hostages and a majority of the Israeli public have called for a ceasefire and a deal to bring all the hostages home immediately. Einav Zangauker, whose son is believed to still be held by Hamas, criticized Netanyahu’s stance, claiming he was setting unworkable conditions to delay negotiations.
Since the start of the conflict, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 62,000, with most of Gaza’s population displaced and critical infrastructure destroyed. As the humanitarian situation worsens, global food security experts have warned of a famine due to ongoing food shortages in the region.
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