Israel and Hamas at Odds Over Ceasefire Proposal
Talks for a ceasefire in Gaza have hit a roadblock, with Israel accusing Hamas of rejecting the latest proposal. However, Hamas maintains that it has responded positively, proposing amendments to the Israeli plan. According to sources, Hamas submitted its response to Qatari mediators, suggesting changes to the Israeli proposal. These include a timeline for a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan stated that the group's response reaffirmed its commitment to a ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza, which it has consistently upheld. However, an Israeli official described Hamas' reaction as a "rejection" of the original deal. Hamas leadership pushed back against this characterization, terming it an attempt by Israel to back out of the proposal. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said the group's response was "responsible, serious, and positive," and opened the way to reachin...