Hamas accused Israel on Wednesday of delaying ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations by adding new conditions, prompting a swift denial from the Prime Minister’s Office. The terror group claimed that Israel imposed additional demands on issues like Gaza’s withdrawal, ceasefire terms, and the return of refugees, hindering progress on a potential deal.
In response, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office dismissed Hamas’s statements as lies, emphasizing that the group was backtracking on prior agreements and continuing to complicate negotiations. “Despite this, Israel remains committed to bringing home all of our captives,” a spokesperson said.
The tension comes amid reports that Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar has not provided a list of captives to be released as part of the first phase of the deal. This has caused frustration among Israeli officials, particularly after early optimism in talks, including discussions mediated by Qatar.
Israel’s delegation returned to the country for further consultations, with sources suggesting that the hostage deal may take longer than initially expected, pushing back timelines suggested in previous media reports.
