Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected ceasefire proposals today, arguing it would still “leave Hamas intact”. 

Negotiations held by Hamas for a pause in the fighting in return for the release of Israeli hostages are ongoing, though a deal currently seems a long way off. 

In a video statement, Mr Netanyahu said the current proposal leaves the risk of Hamas attacks in the future. 

“We are not ready to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions come out of their bunkers, take control of Gaza again to rebuild their military infrastructure and return to threatening the citizens of Israel,” he said. 

“Throughout the negotiations, Israel demonstrated a willingness to go a long way, a long way that was described by US Secretary of State Blinken and others as extraordinarily generous. 

“But while Israel showed this willingness, Hamas remained entrenched in its extreme positions, chief among them the demand to withdraw all our forces from districts end the war and leave Hamas intact. 

“The State of Israel cannot accept this.” 

Hamas-Israel negotiations

Hamas said in a statement it was "still keen to reach a comprehensive, interconnected agreement that ends the aggression, guarantees withdrawal, and achieves a serious prisoner exchange deal". 

More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed and more than 77,000 wounded in Israel's current military operation, according to Gaza's health ministry. 

Israel has said it remains committed to a ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million have fled in search of safety. 

Last month, seven aid workers from several different countries were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. 

Nationals from Australia, Poland, the UK and a dual citizen of the US and Canada were killed, as well as a Palestinian who was driving the car they were all travelling in. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it has not been made aware of any Irish citizen caught up in the attack. 

The volunteers were employed by the World Central Kitchen, which provides food for displaced Palestinians.