Hamas official Osama Hamdan has said there is no need for new negotiations with Israel, amid reports in Israeli media that there is an intention to renew talks on the Gaza truce.
In a telephone interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Saturday, Hamdan said the immediate requirement is for Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and cease all aggression.
“We don't need new negotiations,” he said, adding that Hamas has already accepted a ceasefire proposal that Israel has rejected.
“There is no guarantee that [Israel] “He will accept new proposals to enter into negotiations… If there are no serious guarantees, this means giving Israel more time to continue the aggression,” he added.
Earlier this month, Hamas approved a proposal for a ceasefire in the seven-month war in Gaza put forward by mediators Qatar and Egypt, although Israel said the proposal does not meet its demands.
On Saturday, according to Israeli media, officials involved in the negotiations said the Israeli government intended to renew talks for a release deal for Gaza captives in the coming days, after a meeting with mediators in Paris.
Israeli intelligence chief David Barnea had reportedly agreed to a new framework for the stalled negotiations with mediators: CIA Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The new offer was drafted by the Israeli negotiating team and contains possible solutions to points of disagreement in previous discussions. But Defense Ministry officials believe that even if Israel agrees to a temporary ceasefire, it will be able to return to war when necessary after months.
Hamas has insisted that it is not willing to accept just a temporary ceasefire, but that the end of the fighting has to be permanent.
Israel has insisted that the war will not end before its objectives are met, including the complete defeat of Hamas. However, Israel is coming under increasing international pressure to stop and is increasingly isolated. Recent blows to Israel include an order from the International Court of Justice to halt its offensive in Rafah, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court seeking arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and a decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain will recognize Palestine.
Rafah crossing
Meanwhile, Washington said top diplomat Antony Blinken had also spoken with Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz about new efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reopen the border crossing in the far-southern city of Rafah. from Gaza.
Al-Qahera News said Cairo was also continuing “its efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations and exchange prisoners and detainees.”
He added that Egypt was putting “all kinds of pressure on Israel to allow the urgent entry of aid and fuel” stranded at the Rafah crossing after its closure by Israel earlier this month.
But a Hamas official denied Israeli media reports that Gaza ceasefire talks would resume in Cairo on Tuesday.
“There is no date,” the unnamed Hamas official told Reuters news agency when asked about the reports.
Talks aimed at achieving a hostage release and a truce deal for Gaza halted this month after Israel launched a military operation in Rafah.
At least 35,903 people have been killed and 80,420 injured in Israel's war on Gaza since October 7.
The revised death toll in Israel from the Hamas attack stands at 1,139, with dozens of them still captive.
On Saturday, thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv to demand urgent government action to bring home captives held in Gaza, after the bodies of several were recovered.
Another protest calling for Netanyahu's resignation and early elections was also held nearby.
Despite immense pressure, Netanyahu and his government have so far failed to reach an agreement with Hamas, and many critics doubt his desire to reach a deal.
