Israel’s defence minister has said that he ordered the army to push ahead with its fight against Hamas “regardless of any negotiations”, after a US envoy called the group’s latest response to a Gaza truce proposal unacceptable, AFP reports.

“I have instructed the IDF (Israeli military) to continue forward in Gaza against all targets, regardless of any negotiations”, Israel Katz said in a statement. “Either Hamas releases the hostages, or it will be destroyed. “