Hamas To Emphasize Its Position In Gaza Negotiations After Israel-US Withdraws From Doha Negotiations

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas plans to reinforce its position in negotiations on the ceasefire of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, following the withdrawal of Israeli and US delegations from negotiations in Doha, Qatar last week, according to sources close to the Hamas delegation.

"After the Israeli side withdrew from negotiations, Hamas is considering canceling the flexibility it has shown regarding the deadline for the release of 10 surviving Israelis," the source said.

The previously sponsored framework of the United States includes the release of 10 Israeli hostages and the repatriation of the bodies of 18 hostages who have died in exchange for Palestinian prisoners serving a life sentence and Palestinians from Gaza who have been detained since the war began.

Under the proposed framework, eight hostages will be released on the first day of the 60-day ceasefire agreement; the other half will be released on the seventh day.

"Instead of releasing eight prisoners on the first day, the group is now considering options to share their release over a 60-day period," the source added.

The source said the Hamas group was also "considering making amendments to issues in the agenda of negotiations regarding the halt to war scheduled to begin after the ceasefire took effect."

Separately, an Egyptian official told CNN Monday the group "will now take a hardline position as food levels decrease and it puts internal pressure on them," without providing further details.

Earlier, Hamas Leaders in Gaza Khalil Al-Hayya in a televised address on Sunday blamed Israel and the US for hampering ceasefire negotiations, saying the hunger crisis meant "there is no point in continuing negotiations" under current conditions.