Hamas has proposed a new ceasefire deal amid escalating violence in the Gaza Strip. The offer includes the release of nine Israeli hostages in exchange for a 60-day truce, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid. As per Palestinian authority, plan would allow 400 aid trucks into Gaza daily and facilitate the evacuation of medical patients. However, Israel has yet to respond publicly and continues demanding proof of life for the remaining hostages.

The negotiations, mediated by Qatar and the U.S., resumed in Doha on Saturday, just hours after Israel launched “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” its most intense offensive in months. Since Thursday, over 300 Palestinians have been killed in strikes across the Strip, including in refugee camps and hospitals. The Israeli Defense Forces stated it had hit more than 150 targets in the past 24 hours, declaring the campaign will persist until Hamas is eliminated and all hostages are freed.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached critical levels. Aid agencies warn of famine among the 2.1 million residents, with food supplies blocked for ten weeks. Health workers describe children suffering from severe malnutrition, with reports of extreme weight loss and untreated injuries. British surgeon Dr. Victoria Rose said children were “really thin,” some with missing teeth and chronic infections.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the military operation, aiming to seize and control large areas of Gaza. He delayed the escalation until U.S. President Donald Trump completed his Middle East tour, which ended Friday. Immediately afterward, Gaza residents were ordered to evacuate areas already devastated by previous attacks, a move humanitarian workers say is nearly impossible.

The international community, including the UN and European leaders, has condemned the new offensive. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and leaders from Spain, Italy, and Germany have called for a permanent ceasefire, citing worsening conditions and mounting civilian casualties. Since October 2023, following Hamas's deadly cross-border attack that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages, over 53,000 people have died in Gaza, according to its health ministry. As talks continue in Doha, the world watches closely. The path to peace remains uncertain, but the cost of inaction continues to rise.