Hamas rejects Egypt’s truce offer for Gaza

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has rejected a proposal by Egypt for a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, unless Israel meets a few demands including an end to the Gaza blockade.

The military wing of Hamas, Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, on Tuesday dismissed the proposal as “surrender” and vowed to “intensify” its battle against Israel.

On the same day, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum said, “A ceasefire without reaching an agreement is rejected. In times of war, you don’t cease fire and then negotiate.”

The resistance movement has said it will not hold its fire without Israel agreeing to a list of demands, including an end to its eight-year blockade on the Gaza Strip, along with the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

On Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry presented a three-step plan over the Gaza conflict, which starts with a 12-hour ceasefire that would take effect on Tuesday.

“0600 GMT has been set for the beginning of the implementation of truce arrangements between the two sides,” a statement said. The ministry added that the truce would be followed by the opening of border crossings, and talks in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, between the sides.

Tel Aviv has ignored the UN’s call for a truce and is continuing its intensive aerial bombing campaign against Gaza, which started on July 8. The overall death toll from the Israeli attacks on the coastal enclave has risen to nearly 190.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Tel Aviv will not stop its attacks on Gaza.