Thu Apr 17 22:45:16 UTC 2025: ## Hamas Rejects Interim Truce, Demands Comprehensive Deal in Gaza Conflict

**Cairo, Egypt – April 18, 2025** – Hamas has rejected Israel’s offer of a 45-day truce in Gaza, insisting on a comprehensive deal to end the ongoing conflict. Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’s Gaza chief and lead negotiator, stated in a televised address that the group will only release all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and the full reconstruction of Gaza.

Al-Hayya accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using interim agreements as a political tactic to prolong the war. He explicitly rejected any deal that doesn’t address all three of Hamas’s demands simultaneously. This position directly contradicts Israel’s stance, which demands the release of hostages before any further negotiations. A National Security Council spokesperson, James Hewitt, characterized Hamas’s stance as a rejection of peace, reiterating the US position that the hostages must be released unconditionally.

The latest round of ceasefire talks in Cairo on Monday yielded no breakthroughs. While Egyptian mediators have attempted to revive a previous January ceasefire agreement, both sides remain entrenched in their positions.

The conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023, has resulted in a devastating toll. Over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities. Israeli officials report 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken during the initial Hamas attack. The Israeli military continues its offensive, stating it will not end until all 59 remaining hostages are freed and Gaza is demilitarized.

Adding to the tension, Hamas’s armed wing announced it has lost contact with Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander following an Israeli military strike. The group subsequently released a video threatening the families of hostages with the deaths of their loved ones. On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 32 Palestinians, including a strike on a UN-run school that killed six. The Israeli military claimed the school was targeted because it housed a Hamas command center. The conflict shows no signs of abating, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions.

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