The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has indicated it will reject Israel’s latest ceasefire offer to end the 18-month war in Gaza. Hamas’s chief negotiator said in a televised statement on Thursday that Hamas wants a “constructive” deal to end the war.
The statement comes as the Gaza Civil Defense reported that at least 40 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Most of the dead were residents of displaced Palestinian refugee camps. The Israeli army said it was investigating the attack.
A Hamas source told AFP that a written response to Israel’s latest offer had been sent to mediators on Thursday. The Israeli offer called for the release of 10 surviving hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a 45-day ceasefire.
Hamas’ counter-proposal called for the release of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners and the granting of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been under a complete blockade since March 2.
The Israeli proposal also included a condition that Hamas disarm, which Hamas has flatly rejected.
In a televised statement, Hamas’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said, “Partial agreements are being used as a way to hide the political agenda of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu… We will not be part of this policy.”
He added, “Hamas wants a comprehensive agreement that includes a prisoner exchange, the withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza and the start of reconstruction.”
Earlier, a ceasefire and hostage release agreement came into effect on January 19, but collapsed within two months. Israel offered to extend the first phase, but Hamas demanded a second phase of talks, as proposed by Joe Biden. Then, on March 18, Israel began a massive bombardment of Gaza.