Under growing domestic and international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to negotiating the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, claiming that ongoing military pressure is effectively undermining the group’s capacity while bolstering diplomatic leverage. Addressing a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu insisted Israel is “willing” to reach a deal and is “negotiating under fire,” asserting that cracks are beginning to appear in Hamas’s demands. According to him, increased military operations simultaneously crush Hamas’s capabilities and help create the necessary conditions for hostage releases. He added that the Israeli security cabinet recently agreed to escalate this pressure further.
Netanyahu’s comments came amid large-scale protests across Israel, particularly in Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands rallied to accuse his government of deprioritizing the hostage issue. Protesters were joined by family members of the hostages; one, Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker, accused Netanyahu of effectively authorizing her son’s death after Israeli airstrikes targeted areas in Gaza where hostages are believed to be held. Of the 251 individuals taken during Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, 58 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military confirming that at least 34 are presumed dead.
Netanyahu, facing scrutiny for the duration and conduct of the war, claimed that Hamas must surrender its weapons, and its leaders would then be allowed to leave Gaza. He also referenced the “Trump plan”—an unpopular proposal originally introduced by former U.S. President Donald Trump that envisioned the voluntary relocation of Gaza’s population to Egypt or Jordan, a plan widely condemned by global actors and not implemented. Netanyahu said Israel would assume general security control over Gaza post-conflict to enforce such measures.
Efforts to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release continue, with Egypt, Qatar, and the United States facilitating indirect talks. On Saturday, Hamas stated it had accepted a new proposal to release five Israeli hostages in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire, potentially timed with the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr. Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the group had responded positively to the plan and urged Israel not to undermine it. Netanyahu’s office acknowledged receiving the proposal and responded with a counteroffer, the contents of which remain undisclosed. Israeli media reports indicate that Israel insists on the release of 10 of the 24 hostages believed to be alive.
The humanitarian toll of the renewed Israeli offensive is mounting. On 18 March, Israel resumed large-scale bombardments in Gaza, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire. During this escalation, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that 14 bodies of humanitarian workers, including a UN employee, were found in Rafah, after their ambulances were targeted by Israeli fire. Four additional paramedics remain missing. Israel’s military admitted to firing on the vehicles, citing suspicion. PRCS president Younis al-Khatib condemned the attacks, emphasizing that rescue efforts had been delayed and complicated, and raised the possibility that some medics had been detained by Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu plans to travel to Hungary on 2 April for a multi-day visit, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a political ally, invited Netanyahu shortly after the warrant’s issuance and has expressed opposition to the court’s intervention.
As mediators continue their efforts, the gap between Israeli and Hamas demands persists. Netanyahu’s dual strategy—intensifying military operations while entertaining conditional negotiations—appears aimed at weakening Hamas both physically and diplomatically. At the same time, public dissatisfaction within Israel is intensifying, especially among the families of hostages who feel abandoned by the government. Hamas’s limited offer of hostage releases suggests a calculated move to appeal to international sentiment while prolonging the standoff. With no resolution in sight and hostilities escalating, the political and humanitarian crisis continues to deepen.
Gros News 
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