In a dramatic turn, Hamas has formally rejected Israel's latest ceasefire proposal, asserting its willingness to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that would secure the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for halting hostilities and releasing Palestinian prisoners.

Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas' chief negotiator, voiced strong opposition in a video statement, asserting, "We will not accept partial deals that serve [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's political agenda." With 59 hostages still in captivity, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, the stakes are high.

Israel's recent offer suggested a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages, but tensions ran high as far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vehemently proclaimed it was time to "open the gates of hell" on Hamas.

Earlier in the week, Hamas officials had indicated their dismissal of such a plan, with Hayya accusing the Israeli government of using partial agreements as political leverage, asserting that the ongoing conflict is centered around a strategy of extermination and starvation.

He reaffirmed Hamas’ readiness to engage in immediate negotiations for an all-encompassing deal that would prioritize the exchange of hostages against an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, yet the two sides seem miles apart from any feasible resolution.

Israel's campaign aims for the total disarmament of Hamas, but the human cost continues to rise relentlessly, with airstrikes claiming dozens of lives in Gaza each day. The latest round of strikes reportedly killed at least 37 individuals, mostly civilians forced to seek shelter in tent camps.

Eyewitness accounts detail chilling scenes of destruction, with one man recalling, "I rushed outside and saw the tent next to mine engulfed in flames," after a powerful blast hit.

The Israeli military refrained from commenting immediately but stated it was reviewing reports of these airstrikes. Previous calls for Palestinians to evacuate to al-Mawasi have exacerbated the situation.

In the preceding days, Israeli forces claimed they had targeted over 100 locations deemed as terror targets, including military infrastructure and operational cells.

In the midst of the ongoing blockade, Israel insists that aid is not in short supply; however, the leaders of 12 major aid organizations have declared that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse.

This conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas executed a devastating cross-border attack, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and the seizure of 251 hostages, according to Israeli accounts. In retaliation, Israel's military actions have reportedly resulted in over 51,000 casualties in Gaza, as reported by the Hamas-run health ministry.