Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday of obstructing a ceasefire in Gaza by adding new conditions to a U.S.-backed truce proposal, following recent mediator-led talks. The latest response from Israel came after discussions in Rome involving Israel, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar.
Hamas claimed Netanyahu is engaging in tactics of delay and avoidance by introducing additional demands, thus derailing the negotiations.
They alleged that Netanyahu had deviated from a previously presented proposal, which had been based on an earlier “Israeli paper.”
While Washington, the sponsor of the talks, asserts that a deal is imminent, the negotiations center on a proposal unveiled by President Joe Biden in May. Hamas seeks a ceasefire to end the Gaza conflict, whereas Netanyahu insists that fighting will continue until Hamas is defeated. Disagreements remain over the implementation of any potential agreement.
Mediators from Qatar and Egypt, supported by the U.S., have emphasized that further negotiations are still possible, with both Israel and Hamas expressing willingness to continue discussions.
