Hamas announces reason for rejecting US hostage-ceasefire proposal

The Hamas terror group published an official statement on Sunday evening in which it rejected the terms for a hostage release-ceasefire deal which were discussed in Doha on Thursday and Friday, and blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for putting up new obstacles in the talks, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

Netanyahu, for his part, reportedly told cabinet ministers earlier on Sunday that he was pessimistic about the chances for a deal, especially given that Israel had been effectively negotiating with mediating countries rather than with Hamas, which refused to send a delegation to the latest round of talks.

“The chances are not high,” the Kan public broadcaster quoted Netanyahu as telling ministers.