Talks for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas continued in Egypt on Saturday, but both sides are digging in their heels on the final points.
A top Hamas leader in Gaza said the latest hostage-for-ceasefire proposal on the table comes closest of any recent offer to meeting the terror group’s demands, according to a report.
Yahya Sinwar weighed on the proposed ceasefire deal via Hamas representatives, claiming the offer — which would see an immediate temporary ceasefire and hostage release — meets a number of the terror group’s requirements but raises caveats as well, Arab mediators told The Wall Street Journal.
The terror group is expected to present a counterproposal soon, as ceasefire and hostage talks continued in Cairo Saturday between the Hamas delegation and Egyptian and Qatari mediators. CIA Director William Burns is also taking part in the talks.
Both Hamas and Israel, however, are digging in their heels over the terror group’s demand that the deal is conditioned on ending the nearly seven-month-long war.
Taher al-Nono, an advisor to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, said the terror group is dealing with the proposals put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators “with full seriousness and responsibility,” but added that any hostage deal would require Israel to pull its troops out of Gaza and accept a permanent ceasefire.
