The Palestinian group Hamas rejected a new proposal aimed at bridging differences with Israel over a Gaza ceasefire, stating it aligns too closely with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent stances.
The statement came shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Israel to push for a Gaza ceasefire and a deal for hostages, dimming hopes for an imminent breakthrough.
Hamas received the new proposal from mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., following talks in Doha, but found it unsatisfactory and biased toward Israeli demands.
The group emphasized that Netanyahu’s refusal to end the war and withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza, especially near Egypt’s border, are key obstacles to any agreement.
Hamas blamed Netanyahu for hindering mediation efforts, risking lives, and urged mediators to pressure Israel into honoring previous commitments, reaffirming their support for the July proposal.