Ben-Gvir urges Netanyahu to ‘conquer’ Gaza, halt aid amid ceasefire negotiations

Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the flow of aid into Gaza, forcibly displace its population, and “conquer” the war-battered territory, instead of engaging in ceasefire negotiations.

Ben-Gvir in a post on X on Sunday claimed that any ceasefire agreement that would demilitarize Gaza in the future or include Israeli withdrawal from “conquered territories,” the release of Palestinian abductees, or “revitalization of Hamas with humanitarian aid” would be a “reward for terrorism.”

“The only way to achieve victory … is through the complete conquest of the Strip, a total cessation of ‘humanitarian’ aid, and the encouragement to emigration. I call on the prime minister to abandon the path of surrender and return to the path of victory,” he added.

Hamas said on Friday that it responded in “a positive spirit” to the Gaza ceasefire proposal but had made requests for three core amendments to the proposal.

The changes Hamas has proposed are the continuation of ceasefire negotiations if a permanent agreement during the 60-day pause was not achieved; where the Israeli forces could stay during the 60-day pause; and finally the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza through the United Nations and its affiliate organizations instead of Israel-US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

More than 700 Palestinians have been killed and thousands wounded while seeking aid at or near GHF sites since the foundation began its operation in Gaza in late May.

Hamas says responded in ‘positive spirit’ to Gaza ceasefire proposal

Palestinian resistance group Hamas says it has given a “positive” response to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal.

Hamas has asserted that any ceasefire agreement must include guarantees that Israel will permanently end its war on Gaza.

The Gaza-based resistance group announced that it is “fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing” the latest ceasefire framework.

In response to Hamas’ proposals, Israel announced it would send a negotiating team to Qatar for further negotiations.

The mediators have announced a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire after a 21-month genocidal war that the Israeli regime has waged against Gaza.

Israel had already shattered a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which went into effect on January 19.

The Israeli military resumed its genocidal war on Gaza on March 18, killing at least 400 people in overnight attacks, shattering the two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Israel, with backing from the United States, decided to remove itself from the negotiations for phase two of the ceasefire deal that would ultimately see an end to the war and the release of all Israeli captives still being held in Gaza.

Since October 7, 2023, when the Israeli regime began its devastating war against Gaza, 57,338 Palestinians have been killed, and another 135,957 have been wounded.

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