Hamas Rejects Temporary Ceasefire Proposals

Hamas has firmly rejected proposals for a temporary ceasefire in favor of a permanent end to hostilities in Gaza, insisting on the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the lifting of the blockade. Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri expressed the group's openness to discussing any agreement that meets these terms while also calling on Arab and Islamic nations to support the Palestinian cause. Mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar are working on multiple proposals that include a potential exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, but Israeli officials remain skeptical about reaching a successful agreement. The discussions involve a unified framework that seeks to merge previous proposals into a comprehensive deal. While Hamas is reportedly studying new mediation proposals, they maintain their conditions for a ceasefire and refuse to consider temporary pauses that do not address the underlying issues. The ongoing talks are viewed as an essential step towards potentially more significant negotiations regarding the conflict.