Israel Pushes to Gain Ground in Gaza as Hamas Weighs Ceasefire

Israeli soldiers work on tanks at a staging area near the border with Gaza on July 1.Photographer: Ariel Schalit/AP Photo

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July 3, 2025 at 1:17 PM UTC

Israel is intensifying military operations in one of the last Hamas strongholds in Gaza, as the sides stake out positions before ceasefire negotiations proposed by US President Donald Trump.

The escalation comes as Hamas weighs a call by Trump to enter a 60—day ceasefire during which it would return half of the 50 hostages it still holds and pursue mediated talks with Israel to end the war. The proposal, accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, will be one of the major topics during his visit to Washington next week.