Hamas Says Ready For Truce Deal As Israel Intensifies Gaza Assault

At least 73 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on Wednesday, including 43 people in Gaza City alone, as Israel continued its overnight assault on the enclave’s main urban centre, hospital sources said.

Hamas announced that it is ready to accept a comprehensive truce, tied to the release of all Israeli captives, and has agreed to the formation of an independent national administration to govern Gaza.

A Hamas statement said: “We are ready for a comprehensive truce deal that will see the release of all Israeli captives. We have also agreed to the formation of an independent national administration to run Gaza.”

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office rejected the proposal, insisting that any end to the conflict must be on Israel’s terms. His office said: “The war can end immediately, but only on conditions set by the Israeli cabinet.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich pressed for sweeping territorial changes, unveiling a plan that would see Israel annex nearly all of the occupied West Bank. He urged Netanyahu to back the proposal, declaring: “Israel must move forward with annexation, and I call on the Prime Minister to endorse this plan.”

Since the war began in October 2023, at least 63,746 people have been killed and 161,245 wounded across Gaza, according to Gaza health officials. In Israel, 1,139 people were killed in the October 7 attacks and about 200 were taken captive.

Boluwatife Enome

The post Hamas Says Ready For Truce Deal As Israel Intensifies Gaza Assault appeared first on Arise News.