Israeli PM Rejects Hamas Truce Proposal

He told what plan the militants proposed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the terrorist group's proposal “crazy”.This plan envisaged a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in three stages — each of 45 days: during this time all hostages should be released, Israel should withdraw troops from the strip, Deutsche Welle reports.

Netanyahu said he was confident of defeating Hamas within months and ordered an offensive on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. In response to the reaction of the Israeli prime minister, Hamas called on Palestinian armed groups to continue fighting.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently on a tour of the Middle East, said he sees opportunities for negotiations. At the same time, Blinken noted that there are shortcomings in the Hamas proposal, although he did not indicate what exactly he had in mind. The Palestinian Hamas delegation will continue ceasefire talks with Egypt and Qatar in Cairo this week.