Israel PM Netanyahu vows to pressure Hamas amid pending ceasefire proposal

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri responded to PM Netanyahu’s comments and said that Israel’s stance and prime minister’s remarks are a combined recipe for “endless escalation”.

By: Express Web Desk

Updated: March 31, 2025 06:31 AM IST

3 min read

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was demanding that Hamas lay down its arms and said its leaders would be allowed to leave Gaza. (Source: Reuters)

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his demand of disarming the Gaza based Hamas militant group and its leaders to leave Palestine as he vowed to increase pressure on the group, while continuing efforts to broker a ceasefire and bring back the hostages.

Hamas, which announced on Sunday that it has agreed to a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, faced a setback when PM Netanyahu said that Israel would work to implement US President Donald Trump backed “voluntary emigration plan” for Gaza and that his cabinet is also in agreement to keep pressuring Hamas to disarm.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri responded to PM Netanyahu’s comments and said that Israel’s stance and prime minister’s remarks are a combined recipe for “endless escalation” in the Middle East region.

However, Netanyahu rejected the assertions of Hamas and the perception that Israel was not on the negotiating table, saying “we are conducting it under fire, and therefore it is also effective. We see that there are suddenly cracks.”

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on January 19 which paused the hostilities until March 18 when Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza and sent troops back into the enclave.

People take part in a protest demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

During the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Iran-backed Hamas group released 33 hostages and it still holds reportedly 59 hostages but not all are believed to be alive.

Also Read | Israel intensifies southern Gaza offensive as death toll crosses 50,000 since start of Israel-Hamas war

Hamas’ leader Khalil al-Hayyam, while detailing the new ceasefire proposal received from Egypt and Qatar, said “Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and accepted it.”

The death toll in Gaza recently crossed 50,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and since Israel relaunched its offensive against Hamas, it has killed over 900 people.

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