Overview

• The White House said Israel has signed off on a U.S. proposal for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire that would restore UN-led aid distribution
• Under the plan Hamas would free ten live Israeli hostages and return the remains of 18 in exchange for the release of more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners
• Hamas is holding consultations with allied factions on the offer while Israel’s defence minister warned the group will face “annihilation” if it refuses the terms
• UN agencies warn that Gaza’s entire population risks famine after months of blockade and intensified military operations have driven civilian deaths above 54,000
• Israel’s announcement of 22 new West Bank settlements has drawn criticism from the UK, Egypt and the EU as a deliberate obstacle to Palestinian statehood