Hamas Accuses Israeli PM Netanyahu of Trying to Block Ceasefire Talks

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of placing obstacles in the way of ceasefire talks amid negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

The group called on mediators to intervene and stop what it called "manipulation and crimes" by the prime minister, in a statement on its Telegram account.

Hamas accepted key parts of a U.S. plan aimed at ending the nine-month war in Gaza on Saturday, dropping a demand that Israel first commit to a permanent ceasefire before signing an agreement.

"While the Hamas movement showed flexibility and positivity to facilitate reaching an agreement to stop the Zionist aggression, Netanyahu placed additional obstacles in the way of negotiations as he escalated his aggression and crimes against our people," the group said, as reported by Reuters on July 9.

Netanyahu said on Sunday any Gaza ceasefire deal must allow Israel to continue fighting until its goals are achieved.

On Monday, Israeli tanks advanced into the heart of Gaza City after bombardments that Gaza authorities said had killed dozens of people, as multi-national talks for a ceasefire deal intensified.

It is known that the latest war in Gaza was triggered by an attack by a Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacking southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and causing 250 others to be taken hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

Yesterday, Gaza health authorities confirmed that the death toll of Palestinians due to the Israeli attack on October 7 had reached 38,193 people, and 87,903 others were injured, quoted from WAFA.

Authorities added that the majority of the victims were women and children. Meanwhile, ambulances and rescue teams are still unable to reach many victims and bodies trapped under rubble or scattered on the streets of the Palestinian enclave.