Israel’s defence minister warned Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal submitted by US envoy Steve Witkoff “or be annihilated”, after the group said the deal failed to satisfy its demands, AFP reports.

In a statement, defence minister Israel Katz said the military was acting in Gaza “with full force”, adding: “The Hamas murderers will now be forced to choose: accept the terms of the ‘Witkoff Deal’ for the release of the hostages — or be annihilated.”