Gaza war rages as Hamas studies truce proposal
The Hindu
Under the plan, fighting would stop for six weeks, about 40 women and child hostages would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and up to 500 aid trucks would enter Gaza per day, a Hamas source said.
Israel bombed targets in Gaza on Tuesday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the army would destroy Hamas despite ongoing Cairo talks towards a ceasefire and hostage deal.
More than six months into the war, Hamas said it was "studying" a new proposal for a temporary truce, submitted during the talks with U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
Under the plan, fighting would stop for six weeks, about 40 women and child hostages would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and up to 500 aid trucks would enter Gaza per day, a Hamas source said.
Hamas said it "appreciates" the mediators' latest efforts but accused Israel of failing to respond to its demands including a full withdrawal of forces from Gaza.
Mr. Netanyahu stressed - despite growing pressure from top ally the United States - that Israel would pursue the twin goals of bringing home "all our hostages" and destroying Hamas after its October 7 attack.
In a video message Monday, the premier said Israeli forces would storm Gaza's far-southern city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, despite global concern for the fate of around 1.5 million Palestinians sheltering there.
"This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there," he said.