By Nidal al-Mughrabi
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has rejected an Israeli ceasefire proposal, saying on Saturday it had handed to mediators in Egypt and Qatar its response to the proposal it had obtained final Monday.
After greater than six months of battle with Israel in Gaza, the negotiations stay deadlocked, with Hamas sticking to its calls for that any settlement should finish the battle.
“We.. reaffirm our adherence to our calls for and the nationwide calls for of our folks; with a everlasting ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation military from all the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced to their areas and locations of residence, intensification of the entry of reduction and support, and the beginning of reconstruction,” the Islamist faction stated.
Israel desires to safe the return of hostages seized by Hamas in its Oct. 7 assault that triggered the battle, however says it won’t cease preventing till Hamas is destroyed as a navy power. It additionally says it nonetheless plans to hold out an assault on the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, the place greater than 1,000,000 civilians have taken refuge.
Hamas stated on Saturday it was able to conclude a prisoners-for-hostages swap take care of Israel that might see the discharge of 133 hostages nonetheless believed to be held in Gaza in return for a whole bunch of Palestinians jailed in Israel.
There was no official Israeli touch upon Hamas’ response.
The Hamas assertion got here just a few days after Israel killed a number of family members of the group’s chief Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza, elevating fears among the many households of hostages that it could derail efforts to safe their launch from Gaza.
Talking to Reuters in Qatar a day after the killing, Haniyeh stated his group nonetheless sought a deal however accused Israel of procrastinating and evading a response to the group’s calls for.
World requires a ceasefire have been rising because the battle has entered its seventh month, however there was little signal of progress within the talks.
Hamas is demanding an finish to the Israeli offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces, and permission for Gaza’s displaced Palestinians to return to their houses.
(Writing and reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Extra reporting by Adam Makary and Ahmed Tolba; Enhancing by Hugh Lawson)
