Israeli PM Netanyahu’s office has rejected Hamas’s statement announcing its readiness to reach a ceasefire deal, Al Jazeera reports.
It said “the war can end immediately” on the conditions set by the Israeli cabinet, which includes the release of all Israeli captives and the Palestinian group’s disarmament.
A statement also reiterated Israel’s demands for “the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control of the Gaza Strip, and the establishment of an alternative civil government”.
Israeli news outlets also reported Defence Minister Israel Katz rejected Hamas’s statement by warning the group it only has “two options”.
Meanwhile US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Hamas to release “all 20 Israeli hostages” as a condition to end the war in Gaza.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump pressed for swift action, declaring: “Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 hostages.”
He rejected the idea of partial releases, insisting that nothing short of the return of all captives would be acceptable. “I won’t accept two or three hostages. All 20 must be freed,” he said.
Trump ended his remarks by suggesting that such a move would pave the way for a ceasefire in Gaza, writing: “IT WILL END.”