Hamas has rejected a Gaza hostage exchange and ceasefire deal, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of 'putting obstacles in the way' of reaching an agreement. The US had been optimistic about the prospect of a successful deal.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Israel to push for a Gaza truce, said on Monday ongoing negotiations were "maybe the last" chance to reach an agreement to end the war. "This is a decisive moment -- probably the best, maybe the last, opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security," Blinken said as he met Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
The group has also maintained that it will not agree to a ceasefire that is not permanent. While not directly involved in the talks, Hamas said the latest proposal diverges significantly from a previous iteration it had accepted in principle in June. "He also set new conditions in the prisoner exchange file, and backed down from others, which all prevent the completion of the exchange deal," it said.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Middle East crisis live: Blinken says ‘maybe the last opportunity’ to get hostages out of GazaAfter landing in Tel Aviv, US secretary of state says it is a ‘decisive moment’ for the truce talks ahead of meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu
Read more »
Blinken arrives in Israel for 11th-hour talks on Gaza ceasefire dealUS secretary of state flies into Tel Aviv amid signals that a breakthrough may not be as close as had been suggested
Read more »
Blinken to arrive in Israel to push for Gaza ceasefire as Hamas dismisses optimismTop US diplomat to hold talks with Israeli leadership but senior Hamas official says progress on deal ‘an illusion’
Read more »
Impact of Gaza war on women and girls 'unbearable'; poliovirus found in Gaza sewageOne million women and girls are bearing the worst brunt of nine months of war in Gaza, according to the UN Women Special Representative in the region. Maryse Guimond says nothing prepared her for the total destruction and inhumanity she saw during her latest visit to Gaza.
Read more »
Hundreds protest against Anthony Albanese's 'complicity' in Gaza warHundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the NSW Labor conference to draw attention to the government's complicity in the violence in Gaza.
Read more »
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's call to 'cherish' multiculturalism as Gaza refugee fight drags onAnthony Albanese says he continues to back ASIO&x27;s security measures that vetted Palestinian refugees.
Read more »