Israel “refuses to agree on a comprehensive ceasefire,” the official said. (document)
Hamas and Israel are deeply divided over Gaza truce talks, an official with the Palestinian Hamas group briefed on the negotiations told AFP on Saturday.
Tough talks on a ceasefire and a possible exchange of hostages and prisoners resumed in Doha this week, with the Israeli spy chief joining Egyptian, Qatari and U.S. mediators.
“There are serious differences in the negotiating positions between Hamas and the occupying forces (Israel), as the enemy sees the flexibility shown by the movement as a weakness,” the official said.
“The enemy wants a temporary ceasefire before resuming its aggression against our people,” the official added.
Israel “refuses to agree on a comprehensive ceasefire and refuses to completely withdraw its troops from Gaza,” the official said.
The official added that Israel has expressed its desire to bring relief, asylum and aid matters under its control and asked “the United Nations not to resume work, especially in the northern Gaza Strip”.
Long-standing tensions between Israel and the United Nations have worsened as international outrage grows over Gaza’s severe civilian toll and humanitarian crisis.
The return of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel has been a central issue in the talks, but Hamas officials have made no comment on the issue.
The Palestinian group Hamas held about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages in the attacks, but dozens were released during a week-long truce in November.
Israel believes some 130 people remain in Gaza, of whom 33 are presumed dead, including eight soldiers and 25 civilians.
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