Hamas rejects ceasefire deal, refuses to release captives: report

On Wednesday, the Hamas terrorist group rejected an Israeli proposal for a week-long ceasefire in the war in exchange for the release of 40 hostages, including all women and children still held in Gaza.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Hamas told Egyptian mediators that Israel must stop its military campaign before the terrorists will discuss any potential deal. Additionally, the group demanded that Israel free all Palestinian terrorists in exchange for the over 100 remaining hostages.

Israel has stated that halting its offensive is a non-starter.

Khalil Al-Hayya, the deputy chairman of Hamas in Gaza, told Al Jazeera, "We want an end to the aggression, then we will go to reconstruction and construction, and then we will talk about the prisoners."

On Wednesday, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas who lives in Qatar, went to Egypt for talks about a potential cease-fire and hostage release deal with Israel, according to Reuters.

The outlet added that Haniyeh previously traveled to Egypt in November before the first cease-fire agreement, which saw the release of over 100 hostages from Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel.

A Palestinian official told the outlet that "Hamas's stance remains they don't have a desire for humanitarian pauses," and that "Hamas wants a complete end to the Israeli war on Gaza."