Israel’s defense minister says that troops will remain in so-called security zones in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely.

Israel will not allow any humanitarian aid to enter Gaza to pressure Hamas, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday as negotiations around an Israeli proposal for a Gaza ceasefire continued.

Hamas has reportedly rejected a six-week Israeli cease-fire proposal that would have cost the armed group to surrender its weapons while Israel continues military assaults on Gaza.

Hamas is “studying” an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza that would see 10 hostages released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, an official with the militant group told CNN.

Hamas said on Monday it was studying the proposal it received from mediators for a ceasefire in Gaza, adding it will submit its response "as soon as possible." Egypt earlier received an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in the enclave,