Hamas official says group will not agree to truce with Israel that does not end Gaza war
- Hamas negotiators are back in Egypt to give a response to a proposed ceasefire deal
- Israel says it will send a delegation to Cairo only if it sees ‘positive movement’ on the framework for a hostage deal
A senior Hamas official on Saturday said the group would not accept a truce that did not completely end the Gaza war, accusing Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu of “personally hindering” a deal.
Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators met a Hamas delegation in Cairo on Saturday in the latest bid to halt the devastating almost seven-month-old war that has triggered worldwide protests.
They were to hear the militant group’s response to a proposal that would halt fighting for 40 days and exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to details released by Britain.
But a senior Hamas official insisted late Saturday that the group would “not agree under any circumstances” to a truce that did not explicitly include a complete end to the war, including Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
The official, who asked not to be named, condemned Israeli efforts to secure a hostage-release deal “without linking it to ending the aggression on Gaza”. He accused Netanyahu of “personally hindering” efforts to reach a truce due to “personal interests”.
A top Israeli official had earlier accused Hamas of “thwarting the possibility of reaching an agreement” by refusing to give up its demand for an end to the war.