President Donald Trump (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Despite calls from President Trump to reach a two-month ceasefire in Gaza, claiming Israel has agreed to the deal, Hamas reportedly doubles down on its demand that any deal include a permanent end to hostilities.
By World Israel News Staff
The Hamas terror organization has rejected overtures by the Trump administration to agree to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza with Israel and a partial hostage deal, a senior member of the terrorist group told The Associated Press.
Taher al-Nunu, who previously served as an advisor to Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh prior to Haniyeh’s assassination in July 2024, told the AP Wednesday that it would not drop its longstanding demand that any new agreement with Israel must include a permanent end to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas, al-Nunu said, is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement,” while adding that this willingness only extends to an “initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.”
President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday evening that the Israeli government has agreed to enter into a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas in exchange for the release of hostages, without specifying the details of the framework Israel has allegedly assented to.
Trump added that such a ceasefire would be used for talks to seek a permanent end to the war.
“My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
“Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.”
The president warned Hamas that should it reject the deal, conditions for the terror group “will only get worse.”
“The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” he wrote.
Despite Hamas’ apparent refusal to accept the framework pushed by the U.S., a delegation representing the terror group is slated to meet with mediators in Cairo, an Egyptian official told AP.
Hamas is still holding 50 hostages in the Gaza Strip, with less than half of them believed to still be alive.
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