Israel proposes hostage deal as fighting continues in Gaza

Israel on Monday proposed an extended truce in Gaza in exchange for the return of about half the remaining hostages.

This is as the military issued new evacuation orders and said intense operations were planned in the south of the enclave.

It was learned that the latest proposals would leave open a final agreement over ending the Israel-Hamas war that has destroyed wide swathes of Gaza, killed tens of thousands of people and displaced almost the entire population since it began in October 2023.

However, the proposals reportedly foresee the return of half the 24 hostages believed still to be alive in Gaza nearly 18 months after they were seized by Hamas-led gunmen, and about half the 35 assumed to be dead, during a truce lasting between 40 and 50 days.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would step up pressure on Hamas but would continue negotiations under fire.

“Continued military pressure was the best means of securing the return of the hostages,” he said.

The prime minister also repeated Israeli demands for Hamas to disarm although the Palestinian militant movement has rejected such calls as a red line it will not cross.

According to him, Hamas leaders would be allowed to leave Gaza under a wider settlement that would include proposals from US President Donald Trump for the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from the narrow Strip.

The Israeli military on Monday told Palestinians living in areas around the southern city of Rafah to relocate to Al Mawasi, an area on the shoreline.

“The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is returning to intense operations to dismantle the capabilities of the terrorist organizations in these areas,” the military's Arabic language spokesperson said in a statement.

Hamas had said at the weekend that it had accepted proposals made by Qatari and Egyptian mediators which security sources said would entail five hostages being released every week in exchange for a truce.

DAILY POST reports that the Israeli military, which has cut off aid to Gaza, resumed operations on March 18 after a two-month truce, during which 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais were released in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Efforts to move to a second phase in the ceasefire agreement signed with US backing in January have largely stalled, with no sign of movement to overcome fundamental differences between the two sides over the postwar future.