By Hamas formally rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal on April 18, 2025, which offered a 45-day truce in exchange for releasing 10 of the 59 remaining hostages, 24 believed alive. Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’ chief negotiator, demanded an end to the war and a swap of all hostages for Palestinian prisoners, accusing Israel of using partial deals to prolong the conflict.
Israel’s relentless airstrikes continue, with 37 killed in a tented camp for displaced civilians in al-Mawasi, Gaza, where tents were set ablaze, witnesses told BBC. Israel’s blockade, in place since March 1, has halted humanitarian aid, pushing Gaza’s system to “total collapse,” per 12 major aid groups. Israel claims the blockade pressures Hamas, while targeting “terrorist cells” in over 100 strikes.
The war, sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack killing 1,200 and seizing 251 hostages, has claimed 51,065 lives, per Gaza’s health ministry. Israel’s goal remains Hamas’ destruction, while Hamas insists on a permanent resolution. With both sides entrenched, peace seems distant, and Gaza’s civilians bear the brunt of this deadly stalemate
