Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip is expanding to seize “large areas” of the Gaza Strip, the defense minister said Wednesday.

The Israeli military is set to expand its ground operations to occupy 25% of Gaza in the coming weeks to apply “maximum pressure” on Hamas to release the remaining hostages, officials

Freed hostages are among those calling for a new Israel-Hamas ceasefire. They warn renewed bombing in Gaza jeopardizes the lives of the 24 remaining captives, who are believed to be alive.

Outnumbered' panelists weigh in after CBS News '60 Minutes' correspondent Lesley Stahl appeared to blame the broken Middle East ceasefire entirely on Israel.

Hamas said it had accepted a proposal for a new cease-fire, which would see some hostages released from captivity in Gaza. But details were elusive.

CAIRO (Reuters) -A security delegation from Egypt, one of the mediators in Gaza negotiations, has headed to Qatar for talks on releasing hostages, admitting aid into the enclave and moving towards a second phase of a ceasefire,

Victoria Woodards, who has said she supports a ceasefire in Gaza, joined a delegation of U.S. mayors in Israel for seven days last week.