Monday, 25 May 2026
Israel greenlights Gaza City offensive
Israel’s defense minister has approved a military plan to seize control of Gaza City and authorized the mobilization of approximately 60,000 reservists to execute the operation, the ministry confirmed on Wednesday.
Defense Minister Israel Katz’s decision, verified by an official spokesperson to AFP, escalates pressure on Hamas as international mediators await an official Israeli response to their latest ceasefire proposal in the nearly two-year-long Gaza conflict.
While mediator Qatar expressed cautious optimism regarding the new ceasefire framework, a senior Israeli official reiterated the government's steadfast demand: the release of all hostages must be part of any agreement.
The plan, recently accepted by Hamas, outlines a 60-day truce to start, with phased releases of hostages, the liberation of select Palestinian prisoners, and provisions for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Throughout the conflict, Israel and Hamas have intermittently engaged in indirect talks, resulting in two brief ceasefires that saw Israeli hostages released in exchange for Palestinian detainees.
The latest truce initiative follows Israel’s security cabinet approving the offensive on Gaza City, despite international concerns that such a move could worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis.
Qatar and Egypt, supported by the United States, continue to shuttle between the parties, mediating ongoing negotiations.
Qatar noted the current proposal is "almost identical" to a prior version Israel had agreed to, while Egypt emphasized on Monday that "the ball is now in Israel’s court."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet made a public statement regarding the plan, though last week he affirmed Israel's willingness to endorse an agreement if it includes the immediate release of all hostages under Israeli conditions for ending the war.
On social media, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi stated that his group has “opened the door wide to the possibility of reaching an agreement,” but questioned whether Netanyahu would once again shut this opportunity, as he has in the past.