As Israel continues military preparations for a potential invasion of the Hamas terrorist group’s last remaining stronghold in Gaza City, the Jewish state is facing internal pressure to consider a ceasefire proposal that would call for the release of some of the remaining 20 living hostages. But the Israeli government insists that any future deal must be for a full release of all the remaining hostages.

On Tuesday, an Israeli government spokesperson did not specifically say whether it would reject the ceasefire proposal agreed to by Hamas last week, which calls for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 10 living hostages. At least one hostage family member — Itzik Horn, the father of Eitan Horn — has demanded that Israel agree to the deal, saying not to would be “a stab in the heart of the families and the entire nation.” Protestors have also begun demonstrations nationwide by blocking traffic and burning tires, demanding that the government agree to a ceasefire.

Protests have also swelled due to outrage over an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strike that hit Gaza’s Nasser Hospital on Monday, which killed 20, including five journalists. New details have since emerged indicating that Israeli tanks fired the shells after spotting what appeared to be a rifle scope pointing at IDF troops from the hospital. Military sources subsequently stated that 10 of the individuals killed were Hamas operatives, with at least one having taken part in the October 7 massacre in Israel. The IDF later stated that it regretted the loss of civilian life and could only confirm that six were terrorists, while also noting that the incident is another example of Hamas “cynically” exploiting hospitals for terror purposes.

Experts on the ground in Israel like Chris Mitchell, who serves as Middle East Bureau Chief for CBN News, say that the incident is an unfortunate result of Hamas’s tactics of disregarding the lives of civilians.

“Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians, and it says the military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation,” he noted during “Washington Watch” Monday. “… The IDF did explain that the IDF is operating in a very complex military situation and often in situations where Hamas uses civilians, even journalists, as human shields. So it’s a very, very dangerous place. Hamas does this on a regular basis, but Israel is apologizing for what they believe is a tragic mishap right now.”

Mitchell went on to contend that the ongoing claims that Israel is committing a “genocide” against Gazan civilians by holding back humanitarian aid are false.

“We went to see a distribution site from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF),” he detailed. “They’ve been operating inside Gaza now for about three months, and they have provided over 130 million meals for the people of Gaza. I had to see firsthand some of that distribution to some of the women of Gaza who are getting potatoes and onions and some essentials to go back to their families. One woman was telling us this is really the only aid that they receive as a family, so they’re doing what they can in extremely difficult circumstances, very dangerous circumstances.”

Mitchell further explained that the GHF is currently operating four distribution sites, with hopes to establish up to 16. “[They are] undermining the monopoly that Hamas has had over the food distribution since the very beginning of the war. It’s estimated that Hamas has sold the aid that it steals [worth] about $500 million just last year. So what that does, it helps them to recruit other fighters to pay for arms, and it also helps them control the population. So the GHF is doing an amazing job to try to … go around that monopoly by Hamas and providing aid directly to the people. … They’re very thankful for that.”

Mitchell added that the Israeli government has sent approximately two million tons of food into Gaza since the October 7 massacre, which sparked the war. “That’s an equivalent of almost one ton per person,” he pointed out.

As to what Israel’s plans are in order to end the conflict and free the remaining hostages, Mitchell elaborated on the IDF’s current preparations, known as Operation Gideon’s Chariots II.

“They’re trying to encircle Gaza City,” he remarked. “This is perhaps the last major military stronghold of Hamas. They’re trying to evacuate up to a million people out of harm’s way. They are establishing humanitarian zones down south, medical facilities, so that the people of Gaza get adequate care and adequate food, which actually belies this whole idea that Israel is actually committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. They are calling up maybe as many as 60,000 reservists. They should be coming online probably around September 1st. … But perhaps the major offensive should be in a couple of weeks.”

“In the meantime,” Mitchell concluded, “there are reports that negotiations are continuing, and Israel is demanding that Hamas release all of the 50 hostages, both living and deceased, and also lay down their arms [and] surrender. I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but this is where we are right now.”