The Palestinian group Hamas stated on Sunday that a new proposal to bridge gaps with Israel over a Gaza ceasefire was too close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent positions.
Hamas’ statement came just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Israel to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, dimming hopes for an imminent breakthrough.
Hamas received the new proposal from mediators, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, after a two-day round of talks in Doha.
The group said the new proposal aligned with Netanyahu, who refuses to end the war and withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza, including the border with Egypt, conditions Hamas sees as essential.
“We hold Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the mediators’ efforts, delaying the agreement, and for the lives of his prisoners exposed to the same danger as our people due to his ongoing aggression,” said Hamas.
