As the conflict in Gaza enters its twenty-third month, the prospect of peace remains elusive, with fighting intensifying even as new ceasefire proposals circulate among the region’s key players. On August 21, 2025, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the start of major military operations aimed at taking control of Gaza City, deploying tens of thousands of reserve troops in a move that has drawn both international concern and fierce domestic debate, according to reporting by The Times of Israel and Reuters.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that has controlled Gaza for nearly two decades, quickly condemned Israel’s latest offensive. In a statement posted to Telegram and cited by AFP, Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately blocking efforts to reach a ceasefire, stating, “Netanyahu’s appeal to the mediators’ proposal proves he is a true obstacle to any deal.” The group further argued that Israel’s military plan to conquer Gaza City demonstrated a “blatant disregard for the efforts made by the mediators.”
These accusations came just days after Hamas reportedly accepted a new ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators. The deal, as described by multiple sources including Reuters and the South China Morning Post, would include a 60-day truce and the release of half of the remaining hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war. A source close to the talks told Reuters that, unlike previous rounds, Hamas had accepted the proposal with no further demands.
Despite this apparent breakthrough, Israel has yet to officially respond. Prime Minister Netanyahu, caught between pressure from far-right members of his coalition—who reject any truce with Hamas—and mounting public protests demanding an end to the war, has so far remained noncommittal. According to Israeli officials, Netanyahu was expected to convene discussions about the ceasefire proposal, but no formal acceptance has been announced.
The backdrop to these negotiations is grim. Gaza’s Health Ministry, cited by both WAFA and the UN World Food Program, reported that as of August 21, 2025, the Palestinian death toll from the war had reached at least 62,122, with women and children making up about half the dead. Over 156,759 people have been wounded, and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Hospitals in Gaza recorded three additional deaths from hunger and malnutrition in the past 24 hours alone, bringing the total to 269, including 112 children. Since May 2024, 1,965 people have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid, either in the chaos around UN convoys or at sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and the South China Morning Post.
Efforts to mediate a ceasefire have continued, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stating that mediators are “exerting extensive efforts” to revive a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day truce. The plan would see some of the remaining 50 hostages released and negotiations begin for a lasting ceasefire and the return of the rest. Abdelatty, speaking during a visit to Egypt’s Rafah crossing with Gaza, indicated that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya had joined the talks in Cairo. Abdelatty emphasized that mediators were open to other ideas, including a comprehensive deal that would release all hostages at once.
According to an Egyptian official involved in the talks, the current proposal includes changes to Israel’s pullback of its forces and guarantees for negotiations on a lasting ceasefire during the initial truce. Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, confirmed that Egypt and Qatar have sent the Hamas-accepted proposal to Israel, but as of publication, Israel had not joined the latest round of talks.
Israel’s official stance remains firm. Defence Minister Israel Katz, in a statement reported by the South China Morning Post, vowed on August 22, 2025, to destroy Gaza City if Hamas does not disarm and release all remaining hostages. “Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza – until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war, primarily the release of all hostages and their disarmament,” Katz posted on social media. He warned that if Hamas refuses, “Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” referencing two cities in Gaza that were largely razed in previous Israeli operations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed these demands, stating in a video address that Israel’s conditions for a ceasefire remain the release of all hostages and Hamas’s complete disarmament. He claimed that reports of Hamas’s acceptance of the proposal showed the group was “under massive pressure.” Netanyahu has ordered immediate negotiations aimed at freeing all remaining hostages, while ground troops remain active in strategic areas, with a wide-scale operation in Gaza City possibly imminent.
The origins of the current conflict trace back to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the abduction of 251 people and the killing of around 1,200, mostly civilians. As of August 2025, about 20 hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza, after most others were released in previous ceasefires or deals, according to Israeli sources cited by Reuters. Israel’s insistence that all hostages be released before any permanent ceasefire is agreed upon remains a sticking point in negotiations.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. The UN World Food Program reported that community kitchens in north and south Gaza produced 380,000 meals daily last week, a significant drop from the more than 1 million daily meals produced in April 2025. The ongoing military operations and repeated displacement of civilians have made aid delivery increasingly difficult, raising fears of famine and further mass casualties.
Internationally, the Israeli government faces mounting criticism. Many of Israel’s closest allies have urged restraint and called for renewed efforts to reach a ceasefire, while protests within Israel underscore the public’s desire for the safe return of hostages and an end to the protracted war. At the same time, Netanyahu’s coalition partners, particularly from the far-right, continue to press for a hardline approach, including the possible annexation of parts of Gaza.
As negotiations continue behind closed doors and military operations escalate on the ground, the people of Gaza and Israel remain caught in a cycle of violence and political deadlock. The coming days will likely prove critical in determining whether the latest ceasefire proposal can halt the bloodshed—or if the region is destined for even greater turmoil.
The story of Gaza’s war is one of missed opportunities, deep-seated mistrust, and the tragic toll of conflict on civilians. With each passing day, the urgency for a lasting peace grows, but so too does the challenge of achieving it.
