Israel on Friday issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas: accept the latest ceasefire proposal or face destruction. The warning came as former U.S. President Donald Trump said a truce in Gaza was “very close.”
The situation on the ground remains dire, with the United Nations warning that every resident in Gaza is at risk of famine.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Hamas must agree to a ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, or face annihilation. The militant group has so far dismissed the proposal, saying it fails to meet its core demands.
“The Hamas murderers will now be forced to choose: accept the terms of the ‘Witkoff Deal’ for the release of the hostages — or be annihilated,” Katz declared. Israel has maintained that eliminating Hamas is a central objective of its military campaign.
Despite months of negotiations, a breakthrough remains elusive. Israel resumed operations in Gaza in March after a short-lived truce collapsed.
Speaking in the U.S., Trump told reporters, “They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza. We’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Aid is arriving only sporadically following the partial lifting of a two-month Israeli blockade. UN humanitarian agency spokesperson Jens Laerke described Gaza as “the hungriest place on Earth,” emphasizing that it is the only region globally where the entire population faces famine risk.
Adding to the crisis, the UN reported that one of its warehouses was looted by armed individuals who stole medical supplies and nutritional aid meant for children. Aid agencies warn that the humanitarian breakdown is fueling a collapse in security.
Settlement Expansion and International Backlash
As the conflict rages, Israel has moved forward with settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, drawing sharp criticism from the international community. This week, Israel approved 22 new settlements, prompting condemnation from France, Egypt, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The UK described the announcement as a “deliberate obstacle” to a two-state solution, while Egypt called it a “provocative and blatant new violation of international law.”
Katz defended the move, pledging to build a “Jewish Israeli state” in the West Bank. Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s renewed call for Palestinian statehood, accusing him of launching a “crusade against the Jewish state.”
Macron argued that recognizing a Palestinian state—under certain conditions—is both a “moral duty” and a “political necessity.”
In a notable diplomatic development, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan is expected to visit the West Bank on Sunday—the first such visit of its kind.
Civilian Toll and Continuing Strikes
On the military front, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 45 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Friday, including seven members of a family in Jabalia, northern Gaza. AFPTV footage showed grieving relatives at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
“These were civilians and were sleeping at their homes,” said a neighbor, Mahmud al-Ghaf. “Children in pieces,” he added.
The Israeli military did not comment on the Jabalia strike but said it had carried out “dozens of strikes” across Gaza in the previous 24 hours.
Gaza’s health ministry, operated by Hamas, said that since Israel resumed operations on March 18, 4,058 people have been killed, bringing the total death toll since the war began to 54,321—mostly civilians.
The war erupted following Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which left 1,218 people dead, also mostly civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken during that assault, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 believed to be dead.
