Hamas: “Ball Is Completely In Israel’s Hands”

The Palestinian group Hamas announced early Friday that its delegation attending Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Cairo had left the city for Qatar, adding the ball is now completely in Israel’s hands.

“The negotiating delegation left Cairo heading to Doha. In practice, the occupation (Israel) rejected the proposal submitted by the mediators and raised objections to it on several central issues”, Hamas’ delegation stated, adding that it nevertheless supported the proposal.

“Accordingly, the ball is now completely in the hands of the occupation”, Hamas’ delegation added.

Following the two days of negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip’s seven-month war, representatives from both camps left Cairo.

According to Hamas, the agreement included the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of Palestinians displaced by the war, and the swap of hostages held by militants for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel, with the aim of a permanent ceasefire.

Netanyahu’s office described the proposal as ‘far from Israel’s essential demands’ at the time but stated that the government would still send negotiators to Cairo.

Israel has long been opposed to the idea of a permanent ceasefire, claiming that it must finish the job of eliminating Hamas.

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