Hamas: The group will not agree to a ceasefire unless an agreement is reached to end the war in Gaza

After nearly seven months of war between Israel and the Islamist group in the Gaza Strip, mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States held talks with a delegation of Hamas in Cairo on Saturday in an effort to reach an agreement on a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages.

According to the United Kingdom, mediators were to hear Hamas’ response to a proposal for a 40-day ceasefire and a hostage exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, condemned Israel’s efforts to broker deals for the release of the hostages without linking them to an end to the war in Gaza.

“Hamas will not under any circumstances agree to an agreement that does not clearly include an end to the war in Gaza,” the official said.

“There will be no deal unless the war is completely stopped and the occupiers withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip,” he added.

On Saturday, another senior Islamist official dismissed Israeli claims that Hamas’ reluctance to abandon its demands for a full ceasefire was preventing any deal.

Despite months of cease-fire talks, mediators have failed to reach an agreement with Hamas on its latest proposal for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

A week-long truce in late November saw the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis and other nationals, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held by Israel.

Israel has reportedly not yet sent a delegation to Cairo. A Jewish official told AFP that this would only happen if positive progress was made on the terms of the proposed ceasefire.

“Hard and long negotiations are expected for the actual agreement,” the official said.

According to a Hamas source close to the talks, the ceasefire talks will resume on Sunday.

The war between Israel and Hamas followed the Palestinian movement’s Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that killed 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures.

In the attack, Hamas militants took about 250 hostages, 128 of whom Israel says remain in the Gaza Strip, including 35 hostages who died.

After promising to destroy Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive. The Health Ministry of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip said at least 34,654 people had been killed during the war in the territory.