Hamas rejects new U.S. proposal for Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal
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A Palestinian family flees the al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza amid fighting on Saturday. Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty
Hamas on Sunday rejected an updated U.S. proposal for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, blaming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for moving the goalposts and the U.S. for indulging him.
Why it matters: The White House had claimed significant progress had been made during talks in Doha over the last several days. The rejection of the new proposal, which was presented to the parties on Friday, makes President Biden's goal of getting a deal this week almost impossible.
- A stalemate in the negotiations would also make an attack by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel much more likely.
- Both Tehran and Hezbollah have vowed revenge for Israeli assassinations in Beirut and Tehran, but have held their fire so far.
What they're saying: "After being briefed by the mediators about what happened in the last round of talks in Doha, we once again came to the conclusion that Netanyahu is still putting obstacles in the way of reaching an agreement, and is setting new conditions and demands with the aim of undermining the mediators' efforts and prolonging the war," Hamas said.
- Hamas said the new U.S. proposal "aligns with" Netanyahu's demands.
Zoom in: More specifically, Hamas objects to the fact that the proposal doesn't include a permanent ceasefire or comprehensive Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
- It would also not allow the free movement of civilians from southern Gaza to the north because it endorses Netanyahu's demand for control of the "Netzarim Corridor."
- The proposal would also give Israel control of the Rafah Crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border, as Netanyahu has demanded, per the Hamas statement.
- Hamas said Netanyahu also reversed previous concessions and set new conditions in the prisoner exchange process.
- "All this prevents the completion of the exchange deal," Hamas said.
Zoom out: The Palestinian death toll in the war has crossed 40,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
- 1,600 Israelis have been killed since October 7 and 115 hostages are still held in Gaza.
The latest: Biden told reporters on Sunday after Hamas released its statement that the Gaza hostage and ceasefire talks are still ongoing. "We are not giving up. It's still possible," Biden said.
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