Hamas demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip before a new deal on the release of the hostages
The Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip before any agreement is reached regarding a new deal for the release of the hostages, informs Agerpres.ro.
Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said that negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have made little progress recently.
According to Hamas sources in Beirut, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a ceasefire as a first step. Hamas, on the other hand, rejected an Israeli proposal for the Hamas leadership to leave the Gaza Strip as part of a negotiated settlement.
Several media outlets have recently reported on hopes for a further deal on the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a longer ceasefire.
According to the Washington Post, the CIA director will travel to Europe to meet with his Israeli and Egyptian counterparts and the Qatari prime minister in hopes of negotiating a ceasefire and the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
