Tel Aviv

A Hamas official on Sunday (May 5) said that the Palestinian Islamist Group's negotiators in Cairo left for Doha after the talks, aimed at brokering a truce deal in Gaza, ended in the Egyptian capital, as per news agency AFP reports.

Advertisment

"The meeting with the Egyptian intelligence minister has ended and the Hamas delegation is leaving for Doha for further consultations," said the official to the negotiations on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to publicly discuss the talks.

Hamas, in a separate statement, insisted that it maintained a "positive and responsible approach" towards the negotiations and said it was determined to reach an agreement.

The statement highlighted that the key demands of the group included "a complete end" to the ongoing war, withdrawal of Israeli troops "from the entire Gaza Strip, the facilitation of the return of displaced people, the intensification of relief efforts, the start of reconstruction and the conclusion of a prisoner exchange deal".

Advertisment

Hamas negotiators to return to Cairo on Tuesday

As per Egyptian state-linked media, the Hamas delegation will reportedly return to Cairo for more talks on the truce negotiation on Tuesday (May 5).

Also read: Will not accept truce deal that doesn't completely end Gaza war: Hamas

Advertisment

"The Hamas delegation has left Cairo this evening (Sunday) for Doha in order to conduct consultations, and will return Tuesday (May 7) to conclude the negotiations" towards a truce in the war with Israel, said Al-Qahera News, a site linked to Egyptian intelligence services, citing an unidentified "informed source". 

'Ending Gaza war now would keep Hamas in power,' says Netanyahu 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (May 5) hardened his stance on the demands put forward by Hamas proposing an end to the war in Gaza in exchange for hostages, said that this would keep the Palestinian militant group in power.

However, he said that Israel was ready to halt the fighting in order to secure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas, which according to media reports are still numbered over 130.

"But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power," Netanyahu said.

"Israel cannot accept that."

(With inputs from agencies)