Hamas says will not ‘back down’ on demands for Gaza truce deal

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday (Apr 6) released a statement saying that it has refused to "back down" from its demands for a Gaza truce deal.

However, it said that it would send its delegation for renewed talks on a ceasefire in Egypt's Cairo over the weekend.

"Hamas confirms its adherence to the position it presented on March 14 ... and we will not back down from this position," it said in a statement.

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The group further reiterated its set of demands.

"The demands ... are complete ceasefire, withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, the return of the displaced to their residential areas, freedom of movement of the people, offering them aid and shelter, and a serious hostage exchange deal," it said.

Hamas' statement came hours after US President Joe Biden urged an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza.

Biden calls onEgyptand Qatar to press Hamas on hostage deal

United States President Joe Biden on Friday (Apr 6) urged Egypt and Qatar to press the militant group to conform to a Gaza truce and hostage deal ahead of ceasefire talks in Cairo.

A senior Biden administration official said that the US president wrote letters to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on the state of the hostage talks and "he urged them to secure commitments from Hamas to agree and abide by a deal."

Biden held a telephonic conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (Apr 4) where the leaders discussed the hostage negotiations and the round of talks in Cairo.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said that Biden told Netanyahu to empower Israeli negotiators in Cairo so that the deal could be reached.

"This basic fact remains true: There would be a ceasefire in Gaza today had Hamas simply agreed to release this vulnerable category of hostages – the sick, wounded, elderly, and young women," the senior Biden official said.

"The onus is on Hamas to release the hostages and bring relief to the people of Gaza through a prolonged ceasefire," the official said.

(With inputs from agencies)