Israel has rejected a statement from Hamas saying the armed group is ready for a comprehensive deal to end the Gaza war and free all its hostages.
This is more spin by Hamas that has nothing new, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
It insisted the war would end only once the 48 hostages - 20 of whom are believed to be alive - were released, Hamas was disarmed, Gaza was demilitarised, Israel had security control, and an alternative civilian administration was established.
Hamas reiterated its call for a deal that would see hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, Israeli forces withdraw, border crossings reopened, and the start of reconstruction.
The group also said it agreed to the formation of an administration run by independent technocrats to govern post-war Gaza.
It issued the statement on Tuesday evening, hours after US President Donald Trump wrote on social media: Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!
Last month, Hamas said it had accepted a plan from regional mediators Qatar and Egypt that would see 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages released during a 60-day truce in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Israel has yet to formally respond to the proposal – a decision that Egypt said on Tuesday reflected a complete absence of Israeli will for de-escalation and achieving calm and peace.
In recent days, the Israeli military has intensified air and ground assaults on the outskirts of Gaza City, which is believed to be a Hamas stronghold. Hospitals reported significant civilian casualties, with the UN warning that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating further.
Families of the hostages are urging a ceasefire deal to ensure their loved ones' safety as military preparations for an offensive continue.
