Israel-Gaza war: Mossad says Hamas rejected latest ceasefire proposal

Israel says Hamas ‘is continuing to exploit the tension with Iran’ and ‘does not want a humanitarian deal’

The proposal had been presented to Hamas by mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States

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People gather during an anti-government demonstration in Tel Aviv on April 13 to demand action to return the hostages held captive by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attacks. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:53pm, 14 Apr 2024Updated: 11:09am, 15 Apr 2024

Israel said Hamas had rejected the latest ceasefire proposal from mediators, as tensions escalate following Iran’s mostly foiled assault against the Jewish-majority state overnight.

Hamas, a militant group supported by Iran, turned down the outline presented by mediators, according to Mossad, the Israeli external intelligence agency.

While Mossad did not directly say the Iran drone and missile strikes on Israel were to blame, it said Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, “is continuing to exploit the tension with Iran” and “does not want a humanitarian deal and the return of the hostages”.

The statement from Mossad, which is leading Israel’s negotiations with Hamas, was published by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel had shown plenty of flexibility in the talks, it said.

They are being brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt.

Hamas is sticking to its demands that any agreement must end the war.

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