Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel blamed each other for failing to reach a ceasefire deal despite progress reported by both sides in recent days. Hamas said Israel had set further conditions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the group of going back on understandings already reached.
"The occupying forces have imposed new conditions regarding the withdrawal, ceasefire, prisoners and the return of the displaced, which has delayed reaching the agreement that was available," Hamas said. He added that he was showing flexibility and that the talks, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, were serious. Netanyahu hit back in a statement saying, "The terrorist organization Hamas continues to lie, rejects the understandings that have already been reached, and continues to create difficulties in negotiations."
However, Israel will continue its unrelenting efforts to return the hostages, he added.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking to commanders in southern Gaza, said on Monday that Israel would maintain control of the enclave's security, including buffer zones and checkpoints.
"Security will remain in the hands of our military. It will be able to act in any way to remove threats, to prevent the construction of tunnels, to prevent terrorist infrastructure, to prevent terrorist organizations and attempts to harm the state of Israel or its soldiers," said Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz.
Israeli strikes killed at least 24 civilians across Gaza on Wednesday, health officials said. An attack hit a former school housing displaced families on the outskirts of Gaza City. The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas militant operating in the Al-Furqan area of Gaza City. Several Palestinians were killed and wounded in the Al-Mawasi area, an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza, where the army said it targeted another Hamas operative. (A2 Televizion)
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