Hamas’s armed wing on Monday released a video showing two Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The footage, lasting over three minutes, could not be independently verified for its exact recording date.

Hamas said Saturday it will only release an American-Israeli and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements their ceasefire agreement, calling it an ''exceptional deal'' aimed at getting the truce back on track.

Egypt made a new proposal last week aimed at restoring the Gaza ceasefire deal, security sources told Reuters on Monday. The proposal follows an escalation in violence after Israel resumed air and ground operations against Hamas last Tuesday,

Israel is making plans for a potential major ground offensive in Gaza that would involve sending tens of thousands of troops into combat to clear and occupy large swaths of the enclave, an Israeli official and a second source familiar with the matter said.

Israel will take more territory in Gaza and fight until Hamas is wiped out if the Palestinian militant group keeps refusing to free remaining hostages, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.

Mass anti-Hamas protests erupt in Gaza as hostages remain and war continues. (Credit: Center for Peace Communications)