Gaza war: Israel demands full hostage release after Hamas backs new truce
Mediators are awaiting an official Israeli response to the plan, a day after Hamas signalled its readiness for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending nearly two years of war.
Mediator Qatar expressed guarded optimism for the new proposal, noting that it was 'almost identical' to an earlier version agreed to by Israel.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior Israeli official said the government's stance had not changed and demanded the release of all hostages in any deal.
The two foes have held on-and-off indirect negotiations throughout the war, resulting in two short truces during which Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but they have ultimately failed to broker a lasting ceasefire.
Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have mediated the frequent rounds of shuttle diplomacy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
9 hours ago
- RTHK
Israel pounds Gaza City as troops move in
Israel pounds Gaza City as troops move in A Palestinian child flees as smoke billows from a building in Gaza City hit by an Israeli airstrike on Thursday. Photo: Reuters Israel hammered Gaza City and its outskirts overnight, residents said on Thursday, after its defence ministry approved an expanded offensive to target the remaining Hamas strongholds in the strip. The newly approved plan authorises the call-up of roughly 60,000 reservists, deepening fears the campaign will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. "We are not waiting," the Israeli military said in a statement. "We have begun the preliminary actions, and already now, IDF [army] troops are holding the outskirts of Gaza City." Israel's plans to expand the fighting and take control of Gaza City have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition. Ahead of the offensive, the Israeli military said the call-up of the reservists would begin in early September. Gaza City residents described relentless bombardments overnight. "The house shakes with us all night long – the sound of explosions, artillery, warplanes, ambulances, and cries for help is killing us," one of them, Ahmad al-Shanti, said. "The sound is getting closer, but where would we go?". Another resident, Amal Abdel-Aal, said she watched the heavy strikes on the area, a week after being displaced from her home in Gaza City's Al-Sabra neighbourhood. "No one in Gaza has slept – not last night, not for a week. The artillery and air strikes in the east never stop. The sky flashes all night long," she added. Gaza civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said air strikes and artillery fire overnight targeted areas to the northwest and southeast of Gaza City. Late on Thursday, the Israeli military detailed a range of operations across the Gaza Strip in recent weeks. It said the manoeuvres and strikes "created the conditions" for the military to intensify pressure on Hamas and lay the groundwork for the next stages of the campaign. As Israel tightened its grip on the outskirts of Gaza City, mediators continued to wait for an official Israeli reaction to their latest ceasefire proposal that Hamas accepted earlier this week. (AFP)
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Thai military shows what it says are landmines found on Cambodia border
Read more about this: The Thai army invited the media and Asean military attachés on August 20, 2025, to observe an area where it said landmines were planted by Cambodia. Four Thai soldiers have been injured by landmines near the Thai-Cambodia border over the past month, with the latest incident reported on August 12. The landmine controversy follows a ceasefire between the Southeast Asian neighbours reached in July following a deadly five-day conflict.
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
In major escalation, Israel begins new Gaza City offensive, amid global calls for ceasefire
Israel hammered Gaza City and its outskirts overnight, residents said on Thursday, after the defence ministry approved an expanded offensive to target the remaining Hamas strongholds in the strip. The newly approved plan authorises the call-up of roughly 60,000 reservists, deepening fears the campaign will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. 'We are not waiting. We have begun the preliminary actions, and already now, IDF (army) troops are holding the outskirts of Gaza City,' the Israeli military said in a statement. Israel's plans to expand the fighting and take control of Gaza City have sparked international outcry as well as domestic opposition. Ahead of the offensive, the Israeli military said the call-up of the reservists would begin in early September. Gaza City residents described relentless bombardments overnight.
