Hamas Rejects Extension of Ceasefire,Demands End to War
Diplomatic efforts to keep the guns silent in Gaza hit a wall Saturday when Hamas rejected Israel’s proposal to extend the crossfire.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem made the announcement on Al-Araby TV as the first phase of the truce reached its official expiration on Saturday.
“We reject Israel’s formulation,” he stated firmly, adding that there were “no current talks for a second ceasefire phase” with Israel.
On Friday, Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim also told the Associated Press there had been “no progress” in talks before Israeli negotiators departed Cairo Friday.
He claimed Israel’s offer to extend the ceasefire’s first phase by 42 days was considered a “violation” of the original terms of the agreement.
“Hamas reaffirms its full commitment to implementing all terms of the agreement in all its stages and details,” Naim said, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to “immediately proceed to the second phase without any delay or evasion.”
Under the terms, the second stage would see the release of the remaining living hostages in exchange for a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza.
A third stage would follow, during which the bodies of hostages killed on October 7 or in captivity would be returned to Israel, and the war would permanently end. It’s believed that 63 hostages are still in Gaza with over half of them already murdered by Hamas.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has scheduled urgent consultations with senior ministers and defense officials to determine Israel’s response.
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