Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Hamas Reviews US Truce Proposal as Israel Intensifies Military Strikes
The Straits Times
|March 23, 2025
US 'bridge' plan aims to extend ceasefire; six Palestinian kids killed in air strikes
-
CAIRO/DUBAI - Hamas said on March 21 it was reviewing a US proposal to restore the Gaza ceasefire as Israel intensified a military onslaught to press the Palestinian militant group to free remaining Israeli hostages.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff's "bridge" plan, presented last week, aims to extend the ceasefire into April, beyond the holidays of Ramadan and Passover, to allow time for negotiations on a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Three days after Israel effectively abandoned the two-month-old truce, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military was intensifying its air, land and sea strikes and would move civilians to the southern part of Gaza.
Mr Katz said Israel would continue its campaign until Hamas released more hostages and was totally defeated. Israeli air strikes inflicted serious damage on Hamas this week, killing its Gaza government chief and other top officials.
But Palestinian and Israeli sources say Hamas has shown it can absorb major losses and still fight and govern.
Hamas said it was still debating Mr Witkoff's proposal and other ideas, with the goal of reaching a deal on prisoner releases, ending the war and securing a complete Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
This story is from the March 23, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Back to The Grind on screen
Actors Chantalle Ng and Richie Koh reunite to play a couple working in the same company in the corporate drama
3 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
MAX HAS GOAL AFTER GOLD
S'pore kitefoiler ready for 2026 challenges, which includes reclaiming world c'ship title
3 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
3 doors, 4 wheels, many personalities
The Mini JCW Cooper 3Dr offers fun and finesse with style and substance
3 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
Cavaliers wary of Bulls' Giddey in 'rematch'
The Bulls held serve in Chicago, winning the first half of their back-to-back against the Cleveland Cavaliers behind a triple-double from Josh Giddey on Dec 17.
2 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
Suspected gunman in Brown University mass shooting found dead
The suspect in last weekend’s mass shooting at Brown University is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with investigators certain that he also killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor two days later, officials said on Dec 18.
2 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
Baht rallies to 3-year high against Singdollar
But Thailand's slowing growth, fiscal policies and political uncertainty may curb currency's rise: Experts
3 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
Co-op doctors and social workers join forces for more seamless care
Three-month pilot will see them collaborate through referrals, co-management of cases
3 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
Indonesian pro-government parties open to scrapping direct regional elections
Political parties behind President Prabowo Subianto's administration are open to his suggestion of scrapping the current system of direct elections for regional heads.
3 mins
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
Knife-wielding attacker kills three in Taipei, dies during police chase
Three people were killed and five injured when a knife-wielding attacker went on a rampage in central Taipei on Dec 19, before dying during a police chase after falling from a building, the Premier said.
1 min
December 20, 2025
The Straits Times
Police probing case of man injured near Tampines MRT station
The police are investigating an incident that left a man injured near Tampines MRT station on the evening of Dec 19.
1 mins
December 20, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size