Netanyahu Hints at Exit from Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Accuses Hamas of Rejecting Israeli Conditions
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled a possible withdrawal from ceasefire negotiations in a video message delivered in Hebrew on Sunday. He accused Hamas of rejecting proposals reshaped by Israel in its own favor.
“Hamas refuses to give up control in Gaza and insists on rearming. That is unacceptable,” Netanyahu said in the recorded statement.
He claimed he had accepted proposals from US envoy Steven Witkoff and other mediators for a prisoner exchange deal, but claimed Hamas rejected the offers.
His remarks come amid growing domestic and international pressure to finalize a ceasefire and prisoner agreement. But Netanyahu used the video to attack Israeli media, accusing them of “repeating Hamas propaganda” and blaming him for blocking the deal.
He also questioned Israeli public opinion polls that show widespread support for a deal. “These surveys don’t ask if people want Hamas to remain in Gaza,” he said.
Meanwhile, Quds News Network has obtained a leaked Israeli military map presented during ceasefire negotiations. The map outlines a new “red line” that would place nearly 40% of Gaza under permanent Israeli control. It cuts up to 3 kilometers beyond the pre-war boundary in several areas.
If implemented, the map would prevent over 700,000 Palestinians from returning to their homes. Many would be pushed into severely overcrowded displacement zones in Rafah, near the Egyptian border. Experts warned that the plans were designed to sabotage the deal talks.
Due to pressure from mediators, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu’s delegation may revise the map in upcoming rounds. Negotiators warned the current version resembles a blueprint for ethnic cleansing, something Hamas will never accept.
The Economist had reported that ceasefire efforts in Gaza remain stalled, pointing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a key obstacle. The British magazine said Netanyahu is dragging his feet and delaying a deal, despite growing pressure to reach an agreement.
