Israel minister urges ‘full force’ in Gaza as truce talks falter, Hamas rejects latest US proposal
Jerusalem: An Israeli minister has called for full-scale military action in Gaza following Hamas’s rejection of a fresh US-backed truce proposal, intensifying tensions as humanitarian conditions deteriorate in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, said in a statement on his Telegram channel on Friday that there were “no more excuses” left. Addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he demanded that Israel act decisively. “It is time to go in with full force, without blinking, to destroy, and kill Hamas to the last one,” Ben Gvir declared, citing Hamas’s rejection of the latest truce terms.
The call comes as ceasefire negotiations, ongoing for nearly 20 months, remain deadlocked. A six-week truce collapsed in March 2025, and Israel has since resumed operations in Gaza. The latest US-brokered proposal reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire—possibly extendable to 70 days—with staged exchanges of hostages and prisoners. While Israel has not formally confirmed acceptance, Hamas has publicly rejected the deal, saying it would prolong suffering and fail to meet Palestinian demands.
Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim said the updated plan “means the continuation of killing and famine.” However, he added that Hamas’s leadership is still studying the offer “with full national responsibility.”
Two sources familiar with the negotiations told AFP that Hamas had previously agreed to two exchanges of five living hostages and nine bodies during the truce. The latest version adjusts the timeline, triggering resistance from the group. Out of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, 57 are believed to remain in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
Since Israel resumed major operations on 18 March, at least 3,986 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry, bringing the war's total death toll to 54,249—mostly civilians. In contrast, Hamas’s initial October assault resulted in 1,218 Israeli deaths, also primarily civilians.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Europe to “harden” its stance against Israel should it fail to improve the humanitarian situation. “Action is needed in the next few hours and days,” Macron said, amid fears of mass starvation. Aid has only recently started flowing into Gaza after a two-month Israeli blockade, but food insecurity experts warn that one in five people are facing famine.
As medical facilities in Gaza endure sustained pressure and repeated strikes, the international community is ramping up pressure for a resolution. However, with Israel signalling a more aggressive turn and Hamas refusing current proposals, the prospect of a peaceful breakthrough remains distant.
(With AFP inputs)