On Monday, Hamas agreed to an Egyptian proposal aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict. The proposal involves the release of five living captives in exchange for a week-long ceasefire, the resumption of vital humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. This agreement was seen as a potential step towards easing tensions in the region, with the hopes of providing some relief to those affected by the Israeli attacks.

However, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu significantly raised the stakes on Wednesday, responding with heightened warnings to Hamas. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would not hesitate to take further action if the captives were not released as agreed. He indicated that Israel might seize territory and take “other measures” as part of their response to ensure the release of the hostages, raising doubts about   fulfilling the terms of the agreement.

The international community continues to watch closely as the situation unfolds, with hopes for humanitarian relief and a potential reduction in hostilities, but with concerns about the potential for further escalation.

Al Jazeera.