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Hamas says new Gaza talks have begun, hours after Israel launched major offensive Hamas proposes releasing some hostages in fresh talks after new Israel offensive
(about 2 hours later)
A man carries a child to the hospital following Israel's fresh offensive in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza StripA man carries a child to the hospital following Israel's fresh offensive in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza Strip
Israel and Hamas have engaged in a new round of talks to end the war in Gaza, after Israel's military launched a major new offensive. Hamas has proposed releasing more hostages under a new Gaza ceasefire deal in a fresh round of negotiations with Israel, which comes after Israel's military launched a major new offensive.
At least 300 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on the enclave since Thursday, including at least 50 people in bombardments overnight, rescuers in the territory say. Hamas has agreed to release nine hostages in exchange for a 60-day truce and Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, an official told the BBC.
Taher al-Nounou, an adviser to the head of Hamas, told the BBC fresh negotiations were under way in Doha on Saturday that were being brokered by Qatari and US mediators. Israel is yet to respond to the proposal, but said prior to the talks in Qatar on Saturday that it would not withdraw troops from Gaza or commit to an end to the war.
He said there were no preconditions from either side, and all issues were on the table for discussion. Israel's defence minister said they had started talks without agreeing to a ceasefire or lifting its blockade. Israel's military announced the launch of a new operation on Saturday amid the deadliest wave of strikes in the territory in months, where hundreds have died.
A senior Palestinian official familiar with negotiations told the BBC that talks were centred around some of the remaining hostages being released from Gaza in exchange for a period of calm. At least 300 people have been killed in air strikes across Gaza since Thursday, say rescuers, including more than 200 people in Gaza's north in the past 48 hours, said the Hamas-run civil defence force.
The proposal had been put forward by US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff in recent weeks, but both sides had previously indicated obstacles to the plan. Thousands have died since Israel resumed strikes into Gaza on 18 March, following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire which lasted two months. The humanitarian crisis in the territory has also worsened, say aid agencies, as Israel has blocked supplies of food and other aid from entering the territory for 10 weeks.
The new round of talks comes after a week of intensifying bombardments and airstrikes. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday morning declared the start of a new offensive called "Operation Gideon's Chariots". Strikes this week have hit hospitals and refugee camps in the north and south of the territory. Hamas and Israel began a new round of talks through Qatari and US mediators in Doha on Saturday afternoon local time.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised a major military escalation that would occupy and control swathes of Gaza, force the Palestinian population to the south of the territory and "destroy" Hamas. A senior Palestinian official familiar with negotiations said the new proposed deal reinstates the previous humanitarian protocol, including the entry of 400 aid trucks daily and the evacuation of medical patients from Gaza.
The IDF said on Saturday it wouldn't stop operating "until Hamas is no longer a threat and all our hostages are home". It said it had "struck over 150 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip" in 24 hours. Israel, in turn, has demanded proof of life and detailed information about all remaining hostages.
The Times of Israel newspaper reported that "Gideon's Chariots" - a reference to a biblical warrior - would also see the IDF prevent Hamas from taking control of aid supplies. The new deal will also not include an explicit end to the war, nor any commitment by Israel to withdraw from Gaza, the BBC understands.
Thousands of Israeli troops, including soldiers and reservists, could enter Gaza as the operation ramps up in the coming days. Israeli tanks have also been seen at the border, Reuters news agency reported. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month promised a major military escalation in the war to occupy and control swathes of Gaza, force the Palestinian population to the south of the territory and "destroy" Hamas.
The intensified offensive has been condemned by the UN and some European leaders.
UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed alarm and said: "I reject the repeated displacement of the population – along with any question of forced displacement outside of Gaza."
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk had also earlier said that Israel's strikes, continued blockade of aid into Gaza and the forced relocation of people was "tantamount to ethnic cleansing."
Following the new strikes, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani both called for a permanent ceasefire, while Germany's Foreign Ministry said the new offensive risked "worsening the catastrophic humanitarian situation for Gaza's population and the remaining hostages".
The ramped-up military offensive comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, prompting warnings from aid agencies about famine among the population.
Israel has blocked food and other supplies into the Strip for more than 10 weeks, following the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire in March. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that "a lot of people were starving" in Gaza.
The Israeli government has repeatedly rejected claims there is a food shortage in Gaza.
Jeremy Bowen: Netanyahu's plan risks dividing Israel, killing Palestinians and horrifying worldJeremy Bowen: Netanyahu's plan risks dividing Israel, killing Palestinians and horrifying world
'My children go to sleep hungry,' Gazans tell the BBC'My children go to sleep hungry,' Gazans tell the BBC
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 5 May said Israel was preparing an "intense entry into Gaza" to capture and hold territory, but that it would not commence until US President Donald Trump completed his tour of the Middle East. Trump left the region on Friday. On Saturday morning,the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) then declared the start of a new offensive called "Operation Gideon's Chariots".
A journalist in the territory, Ghada Al Qurd, told the BBC Newshour programme there had been lots of "airstrikes, shellings, drones, shooting and even exploding, in the north and east.
"It's terrifying and horrible," she said of Israel's new operation.
She said her family had only been having one meal a day, because it is limited and expensive.
"They are using food as a weapon," she said.
Smoke rises after an Israeli attack on Tel al Zaatar, Gaza City on 15 May, 2025Smoke rises after an Israeli attack on Tel al Zaatar, Gaza City on 15 May, 2025
On Friday, residents in many parts of northern and central Gaza were told to leave their homes or places of shelter - an order aid workers say is almost impossible because many have already been repeatedly made homeless during the war. The IDF on Saturday said it wouldn't stop operating "until Hamas is no longer a threat and all our hostages are home" and that it had "struck over 150 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip" in 24 hours.
Thousands of Israeli troops, including soldiers and reservists, could enter Gaza as the operation ramps up in the coming days. Israeli tanks have also been seen at the border, Reuters news agency reported.
The intensified offensive has been condemned by the UN and some European leaders.
Commissioner-General of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) Philippe Lazzarini expressed shock at Israel's military operation, saying: "How many more Palestinian lives will be wiped off from their homeland by bombardments, hunger or lack of medical care?"
"Atrocities are becoming a new norm, under our watch, making the unbearable bearable with indifference," he said.
Following the new strikes, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani all called for a permanent ceasefire, while Germany's Foreign Ministry said the new offensive risked "worsening the catastrophic humanitarian situation for Gaza's population and the remaining hostages".
Israel's ramped-up military offensive has also come as aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among Gaza's 2.1 million population.
Israel has blocked food and other supplies from being delivered into the Strip following the breakdown of the ceasefire in March.
A Palestinian woman sits at the site of an Israeli airstrike on a tent sheltering people who have been forced to leave their homes
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that "a lot of people were starving" in Gaza. The Israeli government has repeatedly rejected claims there is a food shortage in Gaza.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said on 5 May that Israel was preparing an "intense entry into Gaza" to capture and hold territory, but that it would not commence until US President Donald Trump completed his tour of the Middle East. Trump left the region on Friday.
That day, residents in across northern and central Gaza were told to leave their homes or places of shelter - an order aid workers say is almost impossible because many have already been repeatedly made homeless during the war.
Strikes on Saturday hit towns in the north of Gaza, including Beit Lahiya and the Jabalia refugee camp, as well as in the southern city of Khan Younis, the Hamas-run health ministry and civil defence forces said.Strikes on Saturday hit towns in the north of Gaza, including Beit Lahiya and the Jabalia refugee camp, as well as in the southern city of Khan Younis, the Hamas-run health ministry and civil defence forces said.
Strikes this week have also hit near hospitals in the Strip.Strikes this week have also hit near hospitals in the Strip.
Israeli tanks have been pictured near the Gaza border in Israel.Israeli tanks have been pictured near the Gaza border in Israel.
Victoria Rose, a British reconstructive surgeon working at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that her team were "exhausted" and staff had lost a "considerable amount of weight".Victoria Rose, a British reconstructive surgeon working at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that her team were "exhausted" and staff had lost a "considerable amount of weight".
"The children are really thin," she said. "We've got a lot of youngsters whose teeth have fallen out."The children are really thin," she said. "We've got a lot of youngsters whose teeth have fallen out.
"A lot of them have quite significant burn injuries and with this level of malnutrition they're so much more prone to infection and they've got so much less capacity to heal.""A lot of them have quite significant burn injuries and with this level of malnutrition they're so much more prone to infection and they've got so much less capacity to heal."
Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Hamas still holds 58 hostages.Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Hamas still holds 58 hostages.
At least 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, including more than 3,000 people since March.At least 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, including more than 3,000 people since March.
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