Hamas has officially rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire offer, calling it a “partial” and unacceptable deal that fails to guarantee an end to the war in Gaza or a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory.

The militant group’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of presenting “impossible conditions” and using ceasefire talks to further Israel’s “political agenda” of continuing the war.

“We are not willing to accept partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda,” Hayya said in a video statement.

Key Points of the Rejected Proposal

Israel’s proposal, presented in Cairo, included:

• A 45-day ceasefire

• The release of 10 hostages initially, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners

• Further negotiations on ending the war and increasing aid to Gaza

• A new demand: the complete disarmament of Hamas — a red line for the group

Hamas insists on a “comprehensive package”: the release of all remaining hostages, a full Israeli military withdrawal, and a permanent ceasefire.

Escalation of Conflict Likely

Following the rejection, Israeli officials issued stark warnings. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that it was time to “open the gates of hell”, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had already signaled a plan to escalate military action if hostages were not returned.

More than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since the most recent truce collapsed in March. Overnight airstrikes killed at least 15 people, including 10 members of the same family.

Israel maintains troop presence in over 30% of Gaza, including parts of Rafah, and intends to hold buffer zones indefinitely, according to Defense Ministry officials.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Aid to Gaza — including food, water, and fuel — has been blocked since March 2, further deepening the humanitarian crisis. Hamas has accused Israel of using “mass starvation as a weapon”, which it claims constitutes a war crime.

Concerns for Hostages’ Lives

There are still 58 hostages believed to be held in Gaza, with 24 presumed alive. This week, Hamas reported losing contact with the group responsible for Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American hostage, after an airstrike on his location.

Stalled Diplomatic Efforts

Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to mediate a new ceasefire have stalled, with no progress in the latest talks in Cairo. The White House criticized Hamas, saying the group is not interested in peace.

“Hamas’s comments demonstrate they are not interested in peace but perpetual violence,” said US National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt.

He emphasized that the Trump administration’s position remains unchanged: either release the hostages or face severe retaliation.