dpa
Cairo
Hamas has said it rejected Israel’s latest proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, saying the latest demands by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deviate from his previous positions and those of the mediators.
David Barnea, the head of Israel’s foreign intelligence service Mossad, sent an amended Israeli proposal for the indirect negotiations to representatives of the mediating states US, Qatar and Egypt on behalf of Netanyahu on Sunday.
Hamas said on Telegram it has since been informed of its contents by the mediators.
"Netanyahu has once again returned to a strategy of procrastination, delay and evasion of an agreement,” the group said.
The talks have been stalled for months but have centred on a plan with several stages proposed by US President Joe Biden in May, to ultimately bring about a permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
It foresees the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails.
Netanyahu recently formulated additional conditions that were included in the proposal submitted by Barnea seeking to ensure that Israel retains checks on certain strategic zones in the Gaza Strip even after a ceasefire enters force.
Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday evening that Barnea had returned from Rome and that talks on the main issues would continue in the coming days.