Hamas Keeps Firm Demands for Permanent Ceasefire Despite Positive Attitude Toward 40-Day Truce

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has expressed a positive attitude towards the latest offer of a 40-day truce linked to the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip. This was revealed in a phone call with the head of Egyptian intelligence, despite the passing deadline for the proposal. Despite this, Hamas remains firm in its demands for a permanent ceasefire, while Israel maintains its refusal.

The leader of Hamas also spoke with Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs and reiterated his desire to come to an agreement. This stands in contrast to previous statements from another Hamas leader who described their position on negotiations as negative. Various online platforms and websites were mentioned following the rewritten content, indicating a mix of informational and entertainment sources on topics like gambling, medical issues, and user-generated content.

Israel has announced the death of one of its hostages, Dror Or, who was kidnapped alongside his children by Hamas. Despite various mediation attempts, a credible plan to protect civilians and prevent heavy losses is still lacking. This has made many capitals and humanitarian organizations fear the consequences of a ground offensive in Rafah. The Israeli Prime Minister has threatened a ground offensive in Rafah with or without a truce agreement, adding to tensions between Israel and Hamas.