The Israeli Minister of National Security and far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir reaches out to a supporter as he walks, escorted by Israeli police, in front of the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem's fortified Old City on May 26, 2025, during a flag march for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the capture by the Israeli army in 1967 of the eastern sector of the city during the Arab-Israeli war. (Credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP.)
BEIRUT — A far-right Israeli minister on Friday urged using "all necessary force" against Hamas after it rejected a new U.S. truce plan, as the U.N. warns the entire population of Gaza faces famine. Ceasefire talks have stalled since fighting resumed in mid-March.
On Friday, far right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, opposed to any compromise since the war began with Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct.7, 2023.
"After Hamas rejected the agreement proposal once again, there are no more excuses [...] It is time to go with all necessary force, without blinking, to destroy [...] Hamas" in the Gaza Strip, Ben Gvir wrote on his Telegram channel in a message addressed to Netanyahu, while he was, according to his office, hospitalized for a "routine colonoscopy" that "went successfully."
'Hungriest place in the world'
On Thursday evening, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announced that the U.S. cease-fire proposal was approved by Israel. There has been no official reaction from Israel so far. A little later in the evening, Bassem Naim, a Hamas leader in exile, told AFP that this proposal did not meet the movement's demands, as it "essentially means the perpetuation of occupation, the continuation of killings, and famine."
This proposal "does not respond to any of our people's demands, including stopping the war and famine," he emphasized, adding that the movement was considering a response.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains disastrous even as aid has started entering the territory after a two-and-a-half-month blockade imposed by Israel, aimed at taking control of the entire Gaza Strip, annihilating Hamas, and freeing the last hostages kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attack.
A spokesperson for the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Jens Laerke, said on Friday in Geneva that Gaza was "the hungriest place in the world," where "100% of the population is threatened with famine."
On the ground, Gaza's Civil Defense told AFP around noon (09:00 GMT) that 22 people were killed Friday in Israeli attacks in various areas of the Palestinian territory. Residents mourned in front of the bodies of their relatives at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, following an attack in Jabalia, in the north of the territory. AFPTV images showed many white body bags laid on the ground outside the hospital. 'These were civilians sleeping at home. The house was destroyed by blind bombings. There is no cease-fire. Israel is killing civilians,' said a resident, Mahmoud al-Ghaf.
Freeing the last hostages
A source close to Hamas said the group is concerned that the U.S. cease-fire proposal lacks guarantees for continuing talks during the truce to reach a permanent cease-fire.
According to two sources close to the negotiations, the new U.S. proposal involves a 60-day truce that can be extended up to 70, and the handover by Hamas of 5 living hostages and 9 dead in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners during the first week, and a second exchange of the same number of living and dead hostages during the second week.
The Oct. 7 attack resulted in the death of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data. Of the 251 people kidnapped by Hamas that day, 57 are still held in the Gaza Strip, including at least 34 who are dead, according to Israeli authorities.
More than 54,249 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Israeli military retaliatory campaign, according to data from the Gaza health ministry, deemed reliable by the U.N.