Despite efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to restore the ceasefire, neither Israel nor Hamas has shown willingness to back down on core demands, with each side blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.
Israel, which wants the return of 59 hostages still held in Gaza, has insisted that Hamas must disarm and be excluded from any role in the future governance of the enclave, a condition that Hamas rejects.
The group, which ran Gaza since 2007, has insisted on agreeing a lasting end to the fighting and a withdrawal of Israeli forces as a condition for a deal that would see a release of the hostages.
Earlier, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement denying that it had rejected a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian mediators, and saying Hamas was standing in the way of a deal to halt the fighting.
Israeli commanders have said the military was ready to step up its operations in Gaza at short notice.
“We will use all the power at our disposal, we will increase the pace and intensity of the operation, and if required we’ll do so soon,” Zamir said at an Independence Day ceremony on Thursday.
On Friday, Israeli strikes continued to hit different areas of Gaza, killing at least 25 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities said.
Israel’s campaign was triggered by the devastating Hamas attack on Oct 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and saw 251 taken hostage. It has so far killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and devastated Gaza where aid groups have warned the Israeli blockade risks a humanitarian disaster.
