Hamas says it will not free any more hostages until Israel ends its war in Palestine ahead of ceasefire talks in Cairo
Daily MailIsraeli PM Netanyahu said Israel would not stop until Hamas is eliminated Hamas says it will only discuss a permanent ceasefire in exchange for hostages Hamas has threatened to not release any more hostages unless Israel agrees to end its war in the Palestinian territories. Israel says that all remaining women and infirm men currently being held in Gaza must be released, and accepts it may have to release Palestinians in Israeli prisons Ismail Haniyeh, who leads the Hamas' political wing, has travelled to Egypt for talks, prompting hope that a new release of hostages may be on the cards Negotiations are complicated as another Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, holds some of the 129 remaining hostages in Gaza But Hamas says it will only discuss a permanent ceasefire in exchange for hostages, rather than a temporary halt to hostilities, which Tel Aviv will not agree to. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the world must pressure Hamas, not just Israel, after wide global criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Bitter fighting between Israel and Hamas have prompted growing concern abroad, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel will not stop until Hamas is eliminated US President Joe Biden warned last night that he did not expect a deal to be struck soon given the great divide between Israel and Hamas Mr Blinken indicated that the humanitarian issue was the sticking point, with Israel insisting on full control of supplies that enter the blockaded Palestinian territory.