• Israeli Army Chief Eyal Zamir urges PM Netanyahu to accept a hostage swap proposal.
• The proposed deal aims to secure the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas.
• Netanyahu continues military plans in Gaza City, raising concerns for hostage safety.
• Mass protests in Israel demand urgent action to secure hostage release.
• UN reports a critical humanitarian crisis with famine impacting Gaza’s population.

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a current proposal for a prisoner swap, asserting that the ongoing occupation of Gaza City poses “serious risks” to the lives of hostages. The appeal comes at a time of increasing pressure from families of hostages who are seeking a resolution to bring their loved ones home. Zamir emphasized that “there is a deal on the table, and it should be taken now,” and that the military has prepared the necessary conditions for its completion, putting the onus on Netanyahu to decide, according to aa and trtglobal.

Netanyahu has indicated intentions to negotiate for the release of hostages while simultaneously pursuing military operations in Gaza. The current proposal involves multiple phases for hostage exchanges, including a 60-day ceasefire and a two-phase swap that entails the release of both living hostages and the bodies of deceased Israelis in return for Palestinian detainees. Reports estimate that approximately 50 hostages are held by Hamas, including 20 believed to be alive, while over 10,800 Palestinians are detained by Israel, amid allegations of torture and neglect, according to BBC, aa, and trtglobal.

The recommended deal aligns with a framework proposed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, being based on prior agreements accepted by Hamas. Despite the evident public demand for a comprehensive resolution, Netanyahu has maintained a hard line, suggesting that Israel would only consider releases if all hostages could be returned at once. Concurrently, Israel's military intensified attacks in Gaza City, causing significant destruction and raising alarms about the ongoing humanitarian crisis, which has emerged as a famine affecting the region, as highlighted by reports from the UN, according to trtglobal and BBC.

Zamir's remarks have resonated with the Israeli public, with mass protests spotlighting the urgent need for negotiations aimed at securing the release of hostages. The situation is compounded by Israel's military strategies which threaten to displace larger populations from Gaza City, intensifying fears of humanitarian fallout from the ongoing conflict. The combined death toll of Palestinians has surpassed 62,700 since the onset of hostilities, underscoring the severe humanitarian impact of the military operations there, according to aa, trtglobal, and BBC.