Hamas announced that its delegation had left Cairo on Thursday amid talks on a Gaza ceasefire deal that mediators hope to reach before the start of Ramadan early next week.
After four days of talks brokered by Qatar and Egypt to secure a 40-day ceasefire ahead of the Muslim month of fasting, there is still no sign of progress on the points of contention.
The warring parties accuse each other of such developments.
“The Hamas delegation left Cairo this morning for consultations with the leadership of the movement. Negotiations and efforts to stop the aggression, return the displaced and deliver aid to our people continue,” Hamas said in a statement.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Israel was “obstructing” efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Israel is rejecting Hamas demands to end its offensive in the enclave, withdraw its forces and ensure freedom of entry into Gaza for aid delivery and the return of displaced persons.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Thursday his intention to continue the military campaign in Gaza. Israel has previously announced that its goal is to destroy Hamas and that any ceasefire must be temporary. He also asked for a list of hostages still alive and held by Hamas in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden said earlier this week that the ceasefire agreement was in the hands of Hamas.
The deal presented to Hamas assumes the release of some of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 in an attack on southern Israel in which, according to Israeli data, 1,200 people were killed and 253 were kidnapped.
Palestinian prisoners in Israel would also be freed.
