Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made a strong threat to Hamas, calling on them to adopt the Gaza ceasefire proposal presented by US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, warning that if they did not do so, they would be destroyed.
The Witkoff offer, according to reports by Xinhua quoting media sources, provides a two-stage swap: the release of 10 alive Israeli hostages and 18 corpses, for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. The package also entails Israel's release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, as well as the remains of 180 Palestinians.
Katz, in an official statement from his office, pointed out that the Israeli army is relentless in carrying out operations throughout Gaza, using air, land, and naval attacks on a level unprecedented before, all for the purpose "of maximum protection of our soldiers in preparation for the entry of the maneuvering forces in each area."
On Friday, the Israeli military specified that its air and ground forces had struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip since Thursday, effectively "killing terrorists, disabling weapons, terrorist infrastructure, and underground infrastructure locations."
Two rocket-propelled grenades were fired at Israeli soldiers during the course of these operations, injuring three lightly.
Of the 251 hostages kidnapped by Hamas in its October 2023 attack, 57 remain thought to be held in Gaza, and the Israeli military estimates that 34 of them are likely dead.
At the same time, the White House on Friday announced that Israel has endorsed the 60-day Gaza ceasefire proposal amid ongoing military operations in the region.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a press briefing, confirmed that US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump "submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas that Israel supported and endorsed."
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