Hamas reviews U.S. ceasefire proposal as Israel intensifies strikes

Hamas said on Friday it was reviewing a U.S. proposal to restore the Gaza ceasefire as Israel intensified its military onslaught to pressure the Palestinian militant group to free the remaining Israeli hostages.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff's "bridge" plan, presented last week, aims to extend the ceasefire into April, beyond the holidays of Ramadan and Passover, to allow time for negotiations on a permanent cessation of hostilities.

Taher al-Nunu, a Hamas spokesperson, said Hamas is reviewing Witkoff's proposal alongside new initiatives from other mediators to end the conflict and secure a complete Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Reuters, citing two Egyptian security sources, reported that Egypt also put forward a bridging proposal, but Hamas had yet to respond. The sources said Egypt had suggested setting a timeline for the release of the remaining hostages, alongside a deadline for a full Israeli pullout from Gaza with U.S. guarantees.

Three days after Israel effectively abandoned the two-month-old truce, the Israeli military intensified its air, land and sea strikes in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue its campaign until Hamas released more hostages and was completely defeated, adding that civilians would be moved to the southern part of Gaza.

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz defended Israel's right to self-defense, saying, "The ceasefire could have been extended if Hamas had released all remaining hostages." He added, "Israel has every right to defend its people against Hamas terrorists."

Al-Nunu accused Waltz of misrepresenting facts, saying Hamas had offered clear proposals for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected and undermined the efforts for political reasons.

So far, Israeli airstrikes have inflicted serious damage on Hamas this week, killing its Gaza government chief and other top officials.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency said on Friday that an intelligence-led strike on Thursday had eliminated Osama Tabash, head of Hamas' military intelligence in southern Gaza. Tabash was also in charge of Hamas' surveillance and targeting unit. There was no immediate response from Hamas on the claim.

Separately, Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, said on Friday it had fired a rocket at the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, calling it retaliation for Israeli attacks on civilians. The IDF said its air force intercepted two rockets launched from Gaza toward Ashkelon.

The governments of Germany, France and Britain called for an immediate return to a ceasefire in Gaza in a joint statement on Friday, also urging Israel to restore humanitarian access.

The ministers said they were "appalled by the civilian casualties" and called on Israel to restore humanitarian access, including water and electricity, and ensure access to medical care and temporary medical evacuations.

They said the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians could not be resolved through military means and that a long-lasting ceasefire was the only credible pathway to peace.

(With input from agencies)