Hamas rejects Israel's ceasefire response, sticks to main demands

The Palestinian Islamist organisation Hamas has rejected an Israeli cease-fire plan, stating on Saturday that it has delivered its answer to mediators in Egypt and Qatar after receiving it last Monday.

The talks are still at a standstill after more than six months of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with Hamas maintaining that any deal must put an end to the conflict.

“We.. reaffirm our adherence to our demands and the national demands of our people; with a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation army from the entire Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced to their areas and places of residence, intensification of the entry of relief and aid, and the start of reconstruction,” the Islamist faction said.

Israel demands the release of hostages taken by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the conflict, but says it will not stop fighting until Hamas is annihilated as a military force. It also claims it intends to launch an attack on Rafah, a southern Gaza city where more than a million residents have sought safety.

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Hamas announced on Saturday that it was ready to finalise a prisoners-for-hostages deal with Israel, which would see the release of 133 hostages thought to be held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

There was no official Israeli statement on Hamas’ reaction.

The Hamas statement came a few days after Israel killed several members of the family of the group’s chief Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza, raising fears among the families of hostages that it would derail efforts to secure their release from Gaza.

Speaking to Reuters in Qatar a day after the killing, Haniyeh said his group still sought a deal but accused Israel of procrastinating and evading a response to the group’s demands.

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Global calls for a ceasefire have been growing as the war has entered its seventh month, but there has been little sign of progress in the talks.

Hamas is demanding an end to the Israeli offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces, and permission for Gaza’s displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.