The latest proposal for a ceasefire, brought forth by the United States, has been turned down by Hamas, which said the goalposts for what it’s looking for have now been moved.
In a statement on Sunday, after rejecting the deal, Hamas blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the reason for why it turned down the proposed ceasefire.
“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
The organization went on to say that the new proposal “aligns with” the demands from Netanyahu and accused the US of indulging what he wants.
The proposed deal came after days of talks in Doha and was proposed to the parties on Friday.
Now, with negotiations all but stalling, experts fear that an attack by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel is far more likely to happen.
Iran and Hezbollah have vowed revenge for a pair of Israeli assassinations in Beirut and Tehran but, so far, have not taken action against the country.
As for what Hamas shot down in the proposal, the group said it objects to the ceasefire not being permanent and there not being a comprehensive plan for Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
Hamas also said that it would not allow the free movement of civilians from southern Gaza to the north because that would endorse Netanyahu’s call for control of the “Netzarim Corridor.”
Through the proposed deal, Israel would also have gained control of the Rafah Crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor, which sits along the Egypt-Gaza border.
“All this prevents the completion of the exchange deal,” Hamas said, noting that several previous concessions were also removed as well as new conditions were implemented for prisoner exchanges.
Despite the setback, President Biden says that efforts to reach a ceasefire will continue, as the death toll has crossed 40,000, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, and hundreds remain held hostage, according to Israel.
“We are not giving up. It’s still possible,” Biden said.