Negotiators are working on a weeks-long ceasefire between the two sides that would see the release of hostages being held in Gaza by the militant group in return for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Joe Biden's claim there could be an imminent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was 'wishful thinking', a spokesperson for the Palestinian group has told Sky News. The US president has said he hoped a ceasefire could be secured by the end of this weekend. Israel-Hamas war: Get the latest updates But Basem Naim refuted the president's comment, telling Sky News that Hamas would not agree to a deal without an absolute ceasefire. 'It is wishful thinking,' he said.
He said it was not true Palestinians were angry at the Hamas leadership for hiding in tunnels, as civilians in Gaza told Sky News, instead insisting most senior leaders were above ground. Proximity talks discussing pause in fighting So-called proximity talks are taking place in Qatar, in which mediators meet delegations from both sides separately.