Israel continues to reject partial Gaza peace deal, intensifies strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is refusing to consider a partial deal for the release of Israeli captives in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners, as the army escalates its bombardment of Gaza City, already declared a "dangerous combat zone".

Hebrew media reported on Saturday that the Israeli security cabinet will not discuss any prisoner-exchange arrangement during its meeting on Sunday, despite mounting international concern and appeals from hostage families for an agreement.

Since dawn on Friday, Israeli forces have intensified strikes across Gaza City, targeting residential neighbourhoods in an effort to force civilians to evacuate. On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike hit a building in the al-Rimal district, killing seven Palestinians.

The army also carried out large-scale demolitions in al-Zeitoun and Sheikh Radwan, areas subjected to repeated bombardment as part of Israel’s declared plan to re-occupy Gaza City.

Channel 12 cited an Israeli political source saying that "there will be no discussion on the security cabinet’s agenda, on Sunday, about what is known as a partial prisoner-exchange deal with Hamas".

The source dismissed reports that army chiefs, the Shin Bet security service, and the Mossad intelligence agency had demanded a cabinet discussion on a phased deal. "The issue will not be brought up tomorrow," the source said. "This track no longer exists. What will decide the matter is only subduing Hamas."

Israel has so far refused to respond to a ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas.

The plan, based on earlier US mediation, would involve a 60-day truce. In its first stage, Hamas would release 10 Israeli captives and return 19 bodies in exchange for the entry of agreed-upon quantities of humanitarian aid, to be distributed through a UN mechanism.

Netanyahu has instead pressed ahead with military escalation. On 20 August, he announced that he had ordered the acceleration of Israel’s plan to seize Gaza City, ignoring mediators Egypt and Qatar, who continue to await an Israeli response to the ceasefire offer.

International warnings have stressed that a full-scale invasion of the city could result in the destruction of the Gaza Strip, the mass displacement of its residents, and worsening humanitarian suffering.

At home, pressure on Netanyahu continues to mount. Families of Israeli captives are escalating protests and activities demanding a deal to secure their relatives’ release, arguing this could bring an end to the nearly 23-month war on Gaza.

The opposition and hostage families accuse Netanyahu of deliberately prolonging the conflict to ensure his own political survival. They argue the prime minister fears his fragile coalition will collapse if its most extreme members - those opposed to ending the war - were to withdraw.

Human rights groups and international organisations, including the UN, have repeatedly condemned Israel’s refusal to engage with ceasefire initiatives and warned that its ongoing assaults amount to collective punishment, raising the risk of further war crimes.

Israel has so far killed at least 63,371 people, the vast majority of whom are innocent civilians.