Israel-Hamas conflict: Biden’s hopes for ceasefire by finish of weekend are ‘wishful considering’, Hamas tells Sky News

Joe Biden’s declare there may very well be an imminent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was “wishful thinking”, a spokesperson for the Palestinian group has informed Sky News.

The US president has mentioned he hoped a ceasefire could be secured by the top of this weekend.

Negotiators are engaged on a weeks-long truce between the 2 sides that will see the discharge of hostages being held in Gaza by the militant group in return for Israel releasing lots of of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel-Hamas war: Get the latest updates

But Basem Naim refuted the president’s remark, telling Sky News that Hamas wouldn’t conform to a deal with out an absolute ceasefire.

“It is wishful thinking,” he mentioned. “Maybe because of internal political affairs in the United States to release some of the tension around the democratic parties in the year of the election.

“But virtually this assertion has nothing to do with the truth. Up to now, we did not obtain any formal proposal. And I feel there are nonetheless gaps between what we’re calling for, what we’re demanding, and what’s proposed from the opposite events.”

Speaking to The World with Yalda Hakim, Mr Naim mentioned the group hoped to achieve a deal by Ramadan, which is predicted to start on the night of Sunday 10 March.

He additionally refused to reply questions concerning the whereabouts of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, saying the group has the fitting to guard him.

He mentioned it was not true Palestinians have been indignant on the Hamas management for hiding in tunnels, as civilians in Gaza informed Sky News, as a substitute insisting most senior leaders have been above floor.

Proximity talks discussing pause in preventing

So-called proximity talks are happening in Qatar, during which mediators meet delegations from each side individually.

They are discussing a proposed six-week pause in preventing, which might additionally embrace permitting lots of of vans to ship desperately wanted assist into Gaza every single day.

The presence of each Israeli and Hamas representatives suggests negotiations are additional alongside than at any time because the begin of February, when Israel rejected a Hamas counter-offer for a four-and-a-half-month truce.

In public, each side continued to take distant positions on the last word goals of a truce, whereas blaming one another for holding up the talks.

Israel says it can agree solely to a short lived pause in preventing to safe the discharge of hostages, whereas Hamas says it won’t free them with out an settlement that results in a everlasting finish to the conflict.