Israel demands release of all Gaza hostages, casting doubt on ceasefire proposal

Israel is demanding the release of all 50 hostages still held in Gaza, casting doubt on a ceasefire plan Hamas accepted on Monday. The proposal, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, calls for a 60-day truce and the staged release of around half the captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, BBC reported.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the country is “not interested in partial deals,” stressing that all hostages must be freed at once. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has echoed this stance, insisting that Israel will continue its military campaign until Hamas is defeated.

Hamas has described the proposal as a “partial deal leading to a comprehensive deal” and a step toward a permanent ceasefire. Israel has not formally responded, leaving the fate of negotiations uncertain, according to BBC.