The radical Palestinian group Hamas has rejected the Israeli proposal for a prisoner swap and temporary ceasefire, Saudi daily Asharq al-Awsat reported.
Hamas officials claim that the proposal put forth by Israel was fundamentally different than the proposal presented by U.S. President Joe Biden, and does not guarantee anything more than a temporary ceasefire.
"The proposal does not guarantee a permanent ceasefire, the occupation forces will remain in Gaza and when they receive the hostages, they will resume the destruction against our people," the article reads.
Earlier, Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that the conditions for the Gaza ceasefire talks that were outlined by Biden demonstrate that Israel has no intention to withdraw its troops from the enclave.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in turn, said that any negotiations with Hamas would be conducted "only under fire."
U.S. President Joe Biden said that during this phase, “as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments,” a temporary ceasefire would become a permanent cessation of hostilities.
