Hamas rejects ceasefire proposal that keeps Israeli troops in Gaza

Hamas has rejected a ceasefire proposal that would have allowed the release of a few Israeli captives and a 30-day halt to fighting, without requiring Israeli troops to leave Gaza. The proposal was mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US. Hamas insists that any ceasefire must include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. The proposed deal would have seen 11 to 14 Israelis released in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian detainees. The Israeli military recently intensified its offensive in northern Gaza, following a controversial plan to create a "closed military zone." Since the conflict began nearly 13 months ago, over 43,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed.