Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem

Jerusalem, May 30: As diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza remain deadlocked, Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir issued a fiery call on Friday, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abandon negotiations and launch a full-scale military assault on Hamas.

“Mr Prime Minister, there are no more excuses,” Ben Gvir declared on his Telegram channel, reacting to Hamas’s rejection of a new US-backed truce proposal. “The confusion, the shuffling and the weakness must end... It is time to go in with full force, without blinking, to destroy and kill Hamas to the last one.”

Ben Gvir’s remarks came just hours after the White House revealed that a ceasefire plan, reportedly approved by Israel, had been sent to Hamas. According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, the proposal was presented by President Donald Trump and US envoy Steve Witkoff, and “Israel signed off on it before it was sent to Hamas.”

Despite the American push, Hamas has expressed dissatisfaction with the latest offer. Senior political bureau member Bassem Naim accused the plan of promoting “continued killing and famine,” and failing to meet “any of our people’s demands,” primarily the halt of hostilities in Gaza.

A source close to Hamas leadership indicated that the current draft is a “retreat” from an earlier version that included an American commitment to permanent ceasefire negotiations.
According to sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations, the new proposal outlines:

• A 60-day truce, potentially extendable to 70 days;

• The release of 10 living hostages and nine bodies during the first week in exchange for Palestinian prisoners;

• A second exchange of equal numbers in the second week.

While Hamas had reportedly agreed to a similar deal last week, that version scheduled the second exchange in the final week of the truce, unlike the revised timeline now presented.

Despite the White House’s assertion that Israel agreed to the proposal, Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed their approval. The situation remains fluid, with negotiations said to be ongoing and pressure mounting on both sides.

Ben Gvir, a controversial figure known for his hardline rhetoric, has consistently pushed for military escalation over diplomatic solutions. His latest statement underscores the growing divide within the Israeli leadership over how to proceed in Gaza, as international calls for de-escalation intensify.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and ceasefire hopes dim, the world watches closely, fearing a new wave of devastating violence if diplomacy fails once again.