Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Hamas approves ceasefire plan, Israel counters with proposal

The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, reported on Monday that 1,001 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel resumed large-scale airstrikes on March 18. The statement added that 80 of these deaths occurred in the past 48 hours, bringing the total death toll in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, to 50,357.

The Israeli military issued widespread evacuation orders across most of Rafah in southern Gaza on Monday, as it resumed its air and ground offensive against Hamas. This follows Israel’s decision to end a ceasefire earlier this month.

Since launching a major operation in Rafah last May, Israeli forces have left large parts of the city in ruins. They also seized a key buffer zone along the Egypt-Gaza border and have refused to withdraw, citing the need to prevent weapons smuggling despite ceasefire terms.

Israel's prime minister has appointed former navy commander Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Shin Bet domestic security agency, his office announced Monday. The decision comes despite the Supreme Court halting the government's attempt to remove the current chief.

"After extensive interviews with seven qualified candidates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to appoint former navy commander, Admiral Reservist Eli Sharvit, as the next director of the Shin Bet," his office said in a statement.

Israel has appointed Col (res.) Yaakov (Koby) Blitstein, deputy director general of the defense ministry, to lead efforts in facilitating Palestinian emigration from Gaza. The defense ministry announced on Sunday that Blitstein will head the newly formed Directorate for Voluntary Transition of Gaza residents.

"We are determined to realize the vision of US President Donald Trump to allow voluntary departure for Gaza residents who wish to do so to various places in the world. Our tests show that at least 40% of Gaza residents are interested in emigrating to other places," said defense minister Israel Katz.

Quakers in Britain are reeling from what they say is an unheard-of violation of one of their places of worship by police officers who forced their way into a meeting house in London and arrested activists gathered there to plan protests of the Israel-Hamas war.

"No one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory," Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said in a statement issued after the raid.

But on Thursday evening, the pacifist group said, more than 20 uniformed police officers, some armed with Tasers, forced their way into the meeting house in Westminster, breaking open the front door "without warning or ringing the bell."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced Sunday the approval of a road project in the occupied West Bank, separating Israeli and Palestinian traffic near Maale Adumim. The plan aims to improve traffic and expand settlements in the E1 corridor, a move widely condemned by the international community. Critics warn it could divide the West Bank and hinder a future Palestinian state. Anti-settlement group Peace Now called it a “new apartheid road,” while Hamas condemned it as part of Israel’s occupation. Israel captured the West Bank in 1967, and its settlements are considered illegal by the UN. Some far-right Israeli ministers push for annexation, hoping to capitalize on a second Trump presidency.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt strikes on Gaza and restore the ceasefire in a Sunday phone call. His appeal followed Israel’s renewed bombardment of Gaza after a fragile truce with Hamas collapsed. Macron stressed that humanitarian aid must resume immediately. Israel intensified attacks on March 18 and launched a new ground offensive, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire. On Sunday, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis killed at least eight people, including five children, during Eid al-Fitr. Macron also urged Israel to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon after Israeli airstrikes hit Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut. Netanyahu warned that Israel would strike anywhere it perceives a threat.

The Israeli military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Sunday after air raid sirens were triggered across multiple areas. "A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (air force) before crossing into Israeli territory," the military confirmed in a statement.

The Iran-backed Huthi rebels have been targeting Israel with missiles since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on Israel. They have also attacked shipping vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, claiming their actions are in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The Huthis had temporarily halted their strikes during the weeks-long truce in Gaza, but resumed attacks after Israel restarted its bombardment of the Palestinian territory on March 18.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched ground operations on Saturday afternoon in the Al-Jenina neighborhood of Rafah, Gaza, aiming to expand the security zone in the southern part of the Strip. As part of the operation, IDF forces destroyed Hamas terrorist infrastructure.

Simultaneously, the IDF continued airstrikes across Gaza, targeting Hamas and other terrorist elements. Over the weekend, these strikes eliminated multiple terrorists, including those involved in launching mortar shells into Israeli territory, and destroyed weapons depots, rocket launchers, military buildings, and other terrorist infrastructure.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, denounced Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon on Saturday, stating that the attacks, including the first strike on Beirut since November’s ceasefire, were unacceptable.

"This aggression must end. Israel... bombed Beirut's southern suburbs for the first time since the truce... we cannot allow this to continue," Qassem declared in a televised address.

His remarks came a day after Israeli forces launched strikes on Hezbollah-linked areas, escalating tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border. Hezbollah has vowed to respond to any further Israeli aggression.

A senior Hamas representative announced on Saturday their acceptance of a fresh Gaza ceasefire proposal from mediators, whilst calling for Israeli support but emphasising that the group's armaments remain non-negotiable.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged receipt of the mediators' proposal and confirmed submitting a response.

"Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediating brothers in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and approved it. We hope that the occupation (Israel) will not obstruct it," stated Khalil al-Haya during an Eid al-Fitr television broadcast.

A senior Hamas official announced on Saturday that the group has approved a new ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar, urging Israel to support it. Khalil al-Haya, in a televised Eid al-Fitr address, stressed that Hamas considers its weapons a “red line.” Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed it had received the proposal and responded with a counter-offer, coordinated with the United States. Talks in Doha between Hamas and mediators aim to restore a truce and secure a hostage release deal. The ceasefire negotiations gained urgency after Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, ending a brief period of calm. Netanyahu recently threatened to seize parts of Gaza unless Hamas released hostages, prompting the militant group to warn that captives could return “in coffins” if airstrikes continued.

Despite heavy Israeli bombardment, a senior Hamas official claimed that talks for a ceasefire were gaining momentum. Bassem Naim, a member of the group’s political bureau, said intensified mediation efforts could lead to a breakthrough soon. However, Israeli strikes continue to pound Gaza, with nearly a dozen people killed on Saturday, according to local officials. Hamas has warned that the hostages in captivity remain at risk as the conflict drags on.

Hamas’s armed wing released a second video of Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot on Saturday, showing him pleading for his release. Bohbot, who was kidnapped from a music festival during the October 7, 2023, attack, warned that ongoing Israeli airstrikes could end his life. The footage, lasting over three minutes, has not been independently verified, but it follows a previous video where he appeared alongside another captive, Yosef Haim Ohana.

Public anger in Israel is mounting as thousands took to the streets of Tel Aviv, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prioritise a hostage deal. Relatives of captives and former hostages addressed the protest, urging the government to act before the upcoming Passover holiday. “We want to celebrate the holiday with all our loved ones,” said one speaker. The demonstrations also reflect broader frustrations with Netanyahu’s leadership, including his controversial judicial reforms.

As Israeli forces intensified airstrikes in Gaza, a senior Hamas official said negotiations for a ceasefire deal had gained traction. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, stated that communication between the group and mediators had increased in recent days. The renewed military offensive, which began on March 18 after a truce collapsed, has left dozens dead and raised concerns over the safety of the remaining hostages.

Hamas’s armed wing released new footage on Saturday showing Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot pleading for his release. The three-minute video, recorded at an undisclosed location in Gaza, is the second within days featuring Bohbot, who was abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. In the latest footage, he warns that Israeli airstrikes could cost him his life and calls on the government to secure his return. AFP has not been able to verify the video's date or location.