US President Joe Biden stated on Sunday that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal is still a possibility.
Speaking to reporters, Biden emphasized that talks are ongoing and declared, "we're not giving up," noting that an agreement is "still possible."
These remarks followed Hamas's official announcement rejecting the proposed ceasefire and hostage release agreement presented at the summit in Doha, Qatar.
Hamas criticized the proposal, saying it fully aligns with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's conditions, particularly his opposition to a permanent ceasefire and his insistence on maintaining control over key areas such as the Netzarim axis, the Rafah crossing, and the Philadelphi Corridor. The group also accused Netanyahu of adding new conditions regarding prisoner exchanges and altering the Israeli stance in other areas, which they argue has hindered the success of the deal.
Hamas placed full responsibility on Netanyahu for the failure of the mediation efforts, claiming that his actions have jeopardized the lives of the hostages, who they say face the same dangers as Palestinians due to the ongoing conflict. The organization demanded a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Philadelphi Corridor and the release of a minimal number of living hostages.
* Arutz 7 contributed to this article.
