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The Israeli military on Wednesday issued what it described as a “final warning” to residents of Gaza City, signaling a likely escalation of airstrikes and military operations in the area. Israeli authorities urged civilians to leave the coastal enclave’s largest city, while Hamas was reportedly considering requesting changes to US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, emphasized the urgency of the warning, stating that it was the last opportunity for civilians to move to southern Gaza as the military tightened its encirclement of the city. On the same day, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli forces had killed at least 46 people, including 36 in Gaza City. “This is the last opportunity for Gaza residents who wish to do so to move south and leave Hamas operatives isolated in Gaza City,” Katz said. He added that those who remain in the city “will be considered terrorists and terrorist supporters.”
The escalation forced the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to suspend its operations in Gaza City, citing security concerns amid the intensifying military action.
In addition to the warnings, the Israeli military announced the closure of the last northern route for residents in southern Gaza, effectively dividing the territory in two. However, authorities clarified that northern residents could still flee south along the coastal route to escape the offensive.
Amid the military escalation, Hamas is reportedly exploring amendments to Trump’s Gaza ceasefire proposal, which requires the group to disarm and disqualifies it from any governing role in Gaza, according to The Guardian. Trump warned on Tuesday that Hamas would “pay in hell” if it rejected the plan.
A Palestinian source close to Hamas told Agence France-Presse that the group might seek modifications to clauses related to disarmament and the removal of Hamas leadership from Gaza. Hamas is also reportedly requesting international guarantees that Israel will completely withdraw from the territory and that no attempts will be made on its leaders’ lives.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, said on Wednesday that certain aspects of Trump’s plan required further negotiation, a view that Qatar had shared the previous day. However, how the US and Israel will respond to these requests remains uncertain.
Trump’s ceasefire proposal outlines several critical measures:
Hostage release: Hamas must release the 48 hostages it still holds within 72 hours of the ceasefire.
Prisoner release: Israel would return nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners currently held in its jails.
Military withdrawal: Israeli troops would gradually pull back to a buffer zone along the Gaza border.
Humanitarian aid and reconstruction: A surge in aid and rebuilding efforts would accompany the cessation of fighting.
Despite these measures, the plan does not provide for a Palestinian state, which remains a key demand of Hamas and the broader Arab world. This situation underscores a tense standoff, with Israel preparing for intensified attacks, Hamas negotiating its position on Trump’s plan, and civilians caught in the crossfire amid growing humanitarian concerns.
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