Hamas Proposes Hostage Deal as Israel Escalates Gaza Offensive
Reporting by Rushdi Abualouf in Cairo, Wyre Davies in Jerusalem, and Danai Nesta Kupemba
Hamas has offered to release nine hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid access, amid new Israeli military operations across Gaza. The proposal came during renewed ceasefire negotiations mediated by Qatar and the United States in Doha on Saturday.
The deal would allow 400 aid trucks per day into Gaza and permit the evacuation of medical patients, according to a senior Palestinian official. In return, Israel is demanding proof of life and detailed information on all remaining hostages.
This new diplomatic push follows the launch of Israel’s “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” its deadliest offensive in Gaza in months. Since Thursday, at least 300 Palestinians have been killed, including victims in hospitals and refugee camps in both the north and south of the Strip.
Despite the proposal, Israel has yet to officially respond, though it had previously stated it would not withdraw troops or commit to ending the war at this stage.
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. Aid agencies warn of famine amid Israel’s 10-week blockade on food and essential supplies. UN officials and medical workers report severe malnutrition among children, rising infections, and critical shortages of healthcare services.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised a full-scale military occupation of parts of Gaza, aiming to destroy Hamas and push Palestinian civilians southward. Thousands of Israeli troops, tanks, and reservists have been mobilized along the Gaza border.
Journalists and aid workers report relentless bombings, shelling, and drone strikes, especially in Deir al-Balah, Beit Lahiya, and the Jabalia refugee camp. The United Nations and several European leaders have condemned the new escalation, calling for a permanent ceasefire to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.
Since the war began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 121,000 injured, according to Hamas-run authorities. The attack killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the kidnapping of 251 hostages—58 of whom remain in Gaza.
