Israel proposed a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 hostages.
However, Hamas, the radical Islamist group, rejected the offer, stating that they oppose any ceasefire that would not lead to a complete end to the war in the Gaza Strip, reports The Times of Israel.
Israel’s proposal also included the release of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. It called on Hamas and other Palestinian groups to disarm in order to fully end the war, which the movement rejected, according to the publication.
Hamas representative Khalil al-Hayya, who is currently outside the Gaza Strip, said in a televised statement that his movement would not become “a part of Netanyahu’s policy of partial deals.”
Commenting on this statement from the Islamists, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt emphasized: “Hamas’ comments show they are not interested in peace, but in perpetual violence. The conditions set by the Trump administration have not changed: release the hostages or face hell.”
