Hamas formally rejects new ceasfire deal pushed by US, blames Netanyahu for 'setting new conditions'

Days after the Doha talks concluded with a revised ceasefire-hostage deal proposal moved by the United States, Hamas put out an official statement rejecting the latest deal. While pushing away the proposal, the Palestinian group blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for putting “new obstacles” in the talks.

The group maintained that the terror group has set “new conditions and demands” to thwart talks and prolong the war in Gaza,” The Times of Israel reported. The statement came hours after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Sunday night with the aim to finalise an agreement.

In the statement, the group stated that the newly formed “bridging proposal” aligns with Israel’s demands. They pointed at the proposal’s insistence that the IDF will continue to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor, the Rafah Crossing, and the Netzarim Corridor. The group also slammed the Israeli Prime Minister for “introducing new conditions around the release of security prisoners.”

“We hold Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the mediators’ efforts and obstructing an agreement,” Hamas said, adding that the prime minister is responsible for the lives of the hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas says it will stand by the July 2 proposal

In the statement, the Palestinian militant group maintained that it will continue to stand by the July 2 proposal. The statement from the terror group came after Netanyahu’s office released a statement and stressed that “Israel has not given up on one of its most fundamental demands, that it must be allowed to continue to battle Hamas in Gaza until such time as it has ousted the terror group from the enclave,” The Jerusalem Post reported.

Meanwhile, Hamas insisted that the deal should include an Israeli agreement for a permanent ceasefire. After the statement from Hamas, the Israeli PMO slammed Hamas.

“They [Hamas] were wrong then – and they are also wrong today. The Prime Minister has strongly insisted on this fundamental demand, which is vital to achieving the goals of the war, and Hamas changed its position,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated, as per The Jerusalem Post.

The PMO also claimed that Hamas are “serial leakers who are harming the ability to advance a deal.” The Israeli PMO stated that the IDF wants to hold onto the Philadelphi and Netzarim Corridors, a demand which will not change.

“Even today, the Prime Minister insists that we remain in the Philadelphia Corridor to prevent the [Hamas] terrorists from re-arming,” Netanyahu’s office stated.

This is a developing story.