Prospects of Gaza ceasefire appears slim; Netanyahu rejects Hamas' demand

TEL AVIV: Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim on Sunday as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled that out.

Hamas maintains that any ceasefire agreement must be for ending the war. It also demanded that Israeli forces should withdraw from Gaza. Netanyahu, who reiterated that he would not accept it, added that Hamas is a threat to Israel.

With this, the talks being held by mediating countries such as the US, Qatar and others with Hamas in Cairo, Egypt, have reached a crisis. The Hamas team arrived on Saturday. The Israeli team has not arrived.

Netanyahu's announcement that he will attack Rafah in southern Gaza and destroy Hamas battalions, whether there is a ceasefire or not, could also derail the peace talks. Israel is ready for a ceasefire to free the hostages. However, it cannot accept Hamas' demands that Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza, Israel must end the war, and that Hamas should remain in power, Netanyahu said.

However, Hamas may accept the first phase of the covenant presented by Israel. The first phase is a 40-day ceasefire. Thus, the Rafah attack can be avoided. In exchange for the release of the hostages, the Palestinians in Israeli prisons will be released. 500 aid trucks will be released to Gaza per day.

People on the streets
People took to the streets demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, putting pressure on the Israeli government. Demands for Netanyahu to resign were also raised