Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has officially sanctioned a military plan aimed at taking control of Gaza City, while also approving the mobilisation of approximately 60,000 reservists. This move, confirmed by his ministry and reported by AFP, marks a significant escalation in Israel’s strategy as tensions rise amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations. The decision underscores Israel’s determination to apply further pressure on Hamas at a time when international mediators continue their efforts to broker a pause in the conflict, which has now stretched close to two years.
Katz’s decision immediately intensified the stakes for Hamas, with mediators such as Qatar and Egypt waiting for an official Israeli reply to their most recent proposal. While Qatar expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of progress, a senior Israeli official reiterated to AFP that the government remains resolute on a key demand: any deal must ensure the release of all Israeli hostages. This condition continues to be the central sticking point in negotiations, even as discussions move forward in the face of mounting humanitarian concerns.
The proposal put forward by Hamas suggests a 60-day truce as a starting point, alongside the phased release of Israeli hostages, the liberation of certain Palestinian prisoners, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza. These provisions are designed to create space for temporary calm while addressing urgent humanitarian needs. However, Israel’s insistence on the unconditional release of all hostages highlights the gulf that still separates the two sides in their negotiating positions.
Throughout the nearly two years of conflict, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have produced only limited results. Previous negotiations led to two short-lived truces during which exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners took place. While those brief pauses provided some relief, they fell far short of a lasting resolution, leaving both sides entrenched in their broader objectives and unwilling to compromise beyond a certain point.
The most recent proposal for a ceasefire surfaced after Israel’s security cabinet gave its approval for an operation to seize Gaza City, a decision that has sparked fears of worsening the dire humanitarian situation already unfolding in the territory. Aid agencies and international observers have repeatedly warned that further military escalation risks deepening the crisis for Gaza’s civilian population, which is already experiencing severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.
Mediation efforts have been led primarily by Qatar and Egypt, with strong backing from the United States. These countries have engaged in repeated rounds of shuttle diplomacy in an attempt to narrow the gap between the two sides. Qatar noted that the latest proposal was “almost identical” to a previous version already accepted by Israel, while Egypt emphasised that the responsibility for moving forward now lies with Israel. Despite these efforts, uncertainty continues to cloud the process as both sides hold firm on their demands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far refrained from issuing a direct public response to the latest truce proposal. However, he stated last week that Israel would only accept an agreement that ensures the release of all hostages at once and under conditions aligned with Israel’s vision for concluding the war. This position reflects Israel’s strategy of maintaining maximum leverage in negotiations, even as global pressure mounts to halt the bloodshed and ease the suffering of civilians trapped in the conflict.
