Tel Aviv, 24 August 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing mounting pressure to reach a ceasefire to secure the release of the remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip and halt the war before the military begins its offensive to capture Gaza City.

Months of indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have so far yielded no results.

Far-right members of Netanyahu's government are staunchly against striking a deal with the Palestinian Islamist group, with media reporting that far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told relatives of the hostages he would exit the ruling coalition if Netanyahu agrees to a ceasefire.

As a workaround, leading Israeli opposition figure Benny Gantz on Saturday proposed forming a six-month "hostage-redemption government" to enable a deal.

A former defence minister, Gantz left the Netanyahu's government in 2024 over disputes on a number of issues.

"If Netanyahu does not agree, then we will know that we have done everything," Gantz said at a press conference.

According to observers it is unlikely that Netanyahu will accept the proposal, as he is dependent on the support of far-right partners like Smotrich for his political survival.

Gantz said the unity government should begin its work by striking an agreement that brings home all 50 hostages still held in Gaza - 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

This would be followed by new elections next year on a mutually agreed date, he added.

Relatives fear for fate of hostages without ceasefire

Relatives of the hostages have also called on the government to secure a deal, fearing for the lives of their loved ones in captivity.

"Our children have been held in the hell of Gaza for 687 days," said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was abducted from Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks, in front of the entrance to the military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

"I turn to the people of Israel: Netanyahu can sign a deal today to bring back 10 living hostages and 18 bodies," she said, referring to the most recent proposal for a ceasefire deal supported by Hamas.

Should Netanyahu agree to do so, he could immediately begin negotiations to return the remaining hostages in return for an end to the war, Zangauker said. "Netanyahu can return my Matan, and the rest of the hostages who are experiencing a shoah."

Hamas said on Monday that it had given mediators a "positive response" to a new ceasefire proposal, which is reportedly an adapted version of a previously negotiated proposal by US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

It envisages a 60-day ceasefire during which 10 living hostages would be released in return for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel presses ahead with Gaza City plan

Israel, however, seems to be on the brink of expanding its offensive.

On Thursday, Netanyahu announced he had approved plans for the military to capture Gaza City, the largest urban settlement in the war-torn territory that is currently home to about 1 million people, in a bid to completely destroy Hamas.

Eyewitness said they saw Israeli troops in the city's Sabra neighbourhood on Saturday, mainly near a building that used to house a school.

Israeli ground troops have been previously deployed to Sabra during the war, which was triggered by the October 7 attacks.

When asked for comment, the Israeli military said it did not disclose information on the positions of its soldiers.

Military chief Eyal Zamir has reportedly warned against the city's takeover, saying it will endanger the lives of soldiers as well as hostages believed to be held in the city.

Netanyahu has held out the prospect holding renewed ceasefire talks alongside the offensive, but the Israeli negotiating team has reportedly not been deployed so far.

Zangauker, however, fears that once the military begins its Gaza City offensive, it will be too late to save the hostages.

She accused Netanyahu of sentencing the hostages to death and the people of Israel to an eternal, unnecessary war.

"We only have a few days left to stop this," Zangauker said. "If the takeover of Gaza [City] begins, there will be no deal. It's now or never."

Gantz also told the press on Saturday: "Our hostages' lives are in danger, their time is running out."

Fears for population of Gaza City

The planned takeover of Gaza City has also sparked heightened fears of further suffering for the civilian population, after UN-backed experts declared famine for the first time in the city and surrounding areas on Friday.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said it has "reasonable evidence" that famine has been occurring in Gaza Governorate, an administrative region which includes Gaza City, since August 15.

It said a further 70% of the Gaza Strip's 2 million inhabitants are unable to meet their food needs, projecting that famine will expand to two other central governorates, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, by the end of September.

Before beginning the campaign, Israel plans to relocate Gaza City's population. However, Israeli soldiers have already advanced into the outskirts of the coastal city, and residents have reported intense Israeli airstrikes nearby.

Photo: epa