Netanyahu dismisses calls for a permanent ceasefire
Hamas's demand for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza may be rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a recorded speech on Sunday, he says Israel cannot agree to the condition of leaving Gaza for good.
- Israel will not agree to Hamas' demands, which would mean capitulation. We will continue fighting until we reach our goals, he says according to the Times of Israel.
He adds that Israel may agree to a temporary ceasefire if it means Hamas releases the hostages.
During the weekend, talks are underway in Cairo about an agreement. Representatives from the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Hamas participate there. Israel has not yet sent a delegation.
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Hamas sources downplay hopes of ceasefire in Gaza
Expectations of an early ceasefire in Gaza were played down by Hamas on Saturday night, after a day of talks in Cairo.
- We have not made any progress, says a high-ranking person within Hamas to AFP.
According to media reports, Israel should have been ready to accept a proposal which, in the last step, means that the country withdraws from Gaza permanently. This was denied by the Israeli army on Saturday. The country is determined to enter Rafah, it said.
Hamas's position is that a permanent ceasefire is necessary for an agreement to be reached
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Relatives want to see agreement: "You don't care about the hostages"
Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to demand re-elections and an agreement that means the release of the hostages, several media reports. Among the participants are relatives of hostages who hope for success in the talks.
Danny Elgarat, whose brother is being held in Gaza, says in a speech in Tel Aviv that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to appease the far right to stay in power, but that the population is not being fooled.
- You don't care about the 132 hostages, he says according to Haaretz.
During Saturday, there were reports of progress in the negotiations in Cairo and that Hamas received a proposal to take a position on. A source within the terrorist-branded group tells AFP that, however, they will not accept anything other than a full withdrawal from Gaza.
According to CNN's sources, the parties have discussed a proposal that, in a first phase, would involve a temporary ceasefire, while 33 Israeli hostages and an unknown number of Palestinian prisoners are released.
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The Israel-Hamas war|The reactions
Israel bans Al Jazeera - the government fully agrees
Israel bans Qatar-owned news channel Al Jazeera. The government was completely unanimous in its vote, writes Haaretz.
The proposal originally came from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Sky News. Netanyahu's government has long been critical of Al Jazeera for what it sees as biased reporting on conflicts affecting Israel. The news channel has, among other things, followed the Gaza war very carefully and has had many reporters and photographers on site.
In early April, Israel's parliament also voted yes to ban the news channel.
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