![Israeli tanks and soldiers move through a muddy street during a raid at Jenin Refugee Camp in Jenin, West Bank, on February 24, 2025 [Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AA-20250224-37155028-37155023-ISRAELI_FORCES_CONTINUE_THEIR_ATTACKS_IN_JENIN_REFUGEE_CAMP_IN_THE_WEST_BANK-scaled-e1740480572373.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
An Israeli newspaper reported yesterday evening that there are currently no new proposals or negotiations regarding Gaza, and that the Israeli occupation army is preparing for the next phase of its operation in the Palestinian enclave.
The first phase of a ceasefire deal that came into effect in January ended on 1 March with Israel refusing to negotiate on the terms of a second phase. Instead, the occupation state has returned to bombing Gaza killing more than 700 Palestinians in just one week.
Arab media reported in recent days that Egypt had proposed a new deal which would see Israel cease fire for two months in return for Hamas releasing five living Israeli captives from Gaza. Under the terms of the deal, humanitarian aid would be allowed in to Gaza, after it was banned almost a month ago, and hundreds of Palestinian detainees would be released from Israel’s jails.
However, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported yesterday evening that “Israel insists that no such offer has reached Israeli officials through the mediators.”
The newspaper quoted an unnamed Israeli official source as saying, “There is no progress in the negotiations; in fact, there are no negotiations at all.”
The source added: “Therefore, Israel is preparing to move to the next phase of the military operation in Gaza.”
Since resuming its genocide in Gaza on 18 March, Israel has killed 730 Palestinians and wounded 1,367 others, most of them children and women, as of Monday evening, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
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