Ceasefire talks stall as Hamas dismisses Israeli proposal

Hamas has rejected a new Israeli ceasefire proposal that called for the group to give up its weapons, according to a senior Palestinian official familiar with the talks.

The official said the proposal, sent through Egyptian mediators, offered a six-week pause in fighting in Gaza in exchange for the release of half of the living hostages held by Hamas.

However, it did not include key Hamas demands: a commitment to end the war or for Israeli troops to withdraw from Gaza.

"The Israeli proposal relayed to the movement through Egypt explicitly called for the disarmament of Hamas without any Israeli commitment to end the war or withdraw from Gaza. Hamas therefore rejected the offer in its entirety," the official said as reported by BBC.

This is believed to be the first time Israel has made disarmament a condition in ceasefire negotiations, which Hamas views as a red line. The official accused Israel of stalling, saying it wants only to retrieve the hostages while continuing the war.

It is estimated that Hamas still holds 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Some of the recently freed hostages described being held in poor conditions underground, many suffering from untreated injuries.

Hamas has said it is ready to release all captives in exchange for a complete end to hostilities and a full Israeli pull-out from Gaza.

It had earlier offered five hostages for a truce extension but said it was open to negotiating the number.

The talks are taking place as Israel continues its military offensive in Gaza. On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes hit near the gate of the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, killing a security guard and injuring nine others, according to hospital spokesperson Saber Abu Arar.

He said the wounded included hospital staff and patients and that three ambulances and reception tents were also damaged.

Graphic footage shared on social media showed bloodied victims being rushed for emergency care. The Israel Defense Forces did not immediately comment.

The strike followed a similar attack on Sunday on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. The UN Secretary-General said he was "deeply alarmed" by that strike. Israel said Hamas had been using a building at the site as a command center, which the group denied.

Doctors said they received just a 20-minute warning before evacuating the hospital. A 12-year-old boy receiving treatment reportedly died after his care was interrupted.

The hospital, one of the last working in northern Gaza, is now out of service.

The UN said the attack was a major blow to the healthcare system.

"Under international humanitarian law, wounded and sick, medical personnel and medical facilities, including hospitals, must be respected and protected," a spokesman for the UN chief said.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened.

A UN agency warned it may now be the worst in 18 months of conflict. Israel has blocked supplies from entering Gaza for six weeks, the longest halt yet.

UN agencies dismissed Israeli claims that enough food remains in the territory, suggesting the blockade could breach international law.

Israel’s Prime Minister has said the block is meant to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and extending the ceasefire that expired on March 1.

The UN’s humanitarian office said attacks are increasing, causing mass civilian deaths and destroying what little infrastructure remains to help people survive.

Nearly 70% of Gaza is now under displacement orders or considered "no-go" zones, with aid groups required to coordinate movement through Israeli authorities.

Reports indicate Israel gave its latest proposal to regional mediators late last week, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met former US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Hamas negotiators then met Egyptian officials in Cairo.

Egypt is now said to have made changes to the proposal, which Hamas is reviewing.

While Israeli media had not expected a breakthrough, an Israeli security official told the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, "We assess that there will be a deal within two-three weeks, but right now there are still gaps and the distance is great."

The official added, "We want to get them to release 19 living hostages. Israel and the United States are coordinated, and the military pressure is having an impact. They have a shortage of gas, and the food and the fuel will run out in a few weeks."

The ongoing war has led to at least 51,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Since resuming attacks on March 18, Israeli strikes have killed at least 1,630 more people.

Israel began its military campaign after Hamas-led attacks on October 7 killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.

Back in January, a ceasefire led to the release of 33 hostages – 25 of them alive – in exchange for 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.

But Israel did not move ahead with the second phase of the deal, which was to include full withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent end to the fighting.

Inside Israel, public support for a ceasefire has grown.

Many citizens now say the government should focus on bringing the hostages home rather than continuing the war.

However, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government depends on hard-line religious parties who have threatened to collapse the coalition if the war ends.

In recent days, Israeli reservists and veterans have voiced concern over the war's direction.

Some signed open letters criticising the army and government, while others raised issues about the burden of reserve duty and the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service, even as the army struggles with a shortage of combat troops.