Israel on Tuesday rejected Hamas’ partial hostage deal, which offers to release only ten captives in return for a two-month ceasefire, the Israeli media reported, quoting a senior diplomat.
“Israel remains consistent in its policy and demands the release of all 50 hostages in accordance with the principles set by the security cabinet for ending the war, a senior diplomatic source said on Tuesday,” the Jerusalem Post reported.
More than 22 months after the October 7 terror attack, Hamas continues to hold 50 hostages, of which 20 are believed to be alive.
The statement by the senior Israeli official is consistent with the position stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We will agree to an agreement only if all the hostages are released in one phase and according to our terms,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said on Sunday night.
The BBC on Tuesday cited a statement by Hamas, saying the terrorist “group and other Palestinian factions had approved a ceasefire proposal presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to their delegations in Cairo the previous day.”
The Hamas offer, backed by Qatar and Egypt, wants to stop an impending Israeli military offensive to capture the terrorist stronghold of Gaza City — where most of Gaza’s remaining terrorist forces are located and many hostages are thought to be held. “The plan was presented by Qatar and Egypt, which are trying to avert a major new Israeli offensive to occupy Gaza fully,” the British broadcaster added.
The Israel National News/Arutz Sheva reported:
A senior Israeli political official commented today (Tuesday) on Hamas’s proposal for a partial hostage-release deal.“The policy of Israel is consistent and has not changed. Israel demands the release of all 50 hostages in accordance with the principles set by the Cabinet for ending the war,” the official said.According to the diplomatic source, Israel will continue to act until all its objectives are achieved. “We are at the final stage of deciding Hamas’s fate and will leave no hostage behind,” he stated.These remarks came after Hamas responded positively yesterday to a proposal for a partial hostage deal, which includes the release of ten living hostages and the return of the bodies of additional hostages, while the remaining hostages would remain in captivity. In exchange for the 10 living hostages, Israel would be required to release 140 terrorists serving life sentences and 60 terrorists serving sentences of 15 years or higher.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stance echoes a remark made by President Donald Trump on Monday that the hostages will only be freed “when Hamas is confronted and destroyed.”
“We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Play to WIN, or don’t play at all!” he added.
While Hamas continues to torture and starve hostages, the Israeli military has been working to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza — created mainly by the enclave’s terrorist groups. According to the United Nations, nearly 90 percent of all aid trucks entering Gaza since mid-May have been looted or hijacked by Palestinian terrorists.
“Over the past few hours, 185 aid packages containing food for the residents of the Gaza Strip were airdropped by eight different countries,” the IDF said in a statement on Tuesday. “The IDF will continue to work in order to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, along with the international community, while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza.”
The IDF on Tuesday announced the elimination of Jihad Kamal Salem Najjar, a Hamas terrorist who took part in the kidnapping of Yarden Bibas.
Yarden Bibas was released by Hamas in February 2025 after more than 480 days of capacity. His wife, Shiri, and children, 9-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel were brutally murdered by Hamas in captivity.
“The IDF and ISA [also known as Shin Bet security agency], with direction from the southern command, struck and eliminated on August 10th, 2025, the terrorist Jihad Kamal Salem Najjar, a terrorist in Hamas’ military wing,” Israeli military said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
“The terrorist infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the brutal October 7th massacre and took part in the abduction of Yarden Bibas,” the IDF added.
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