Hamas said in a statement early Tuesday that Israel's proposal that it received from Qatari and Egyptian mediators did not meet its demands. Nevertheless, the terror group said it would study the proposal, which it described as "intransigent", and deliver its response to the mediators.
A Hamas source told Reuters on Monday that the group has rejected the Israeli ceasefire proposal made at talks in Cairo.
Israel and Hamas sent teams to Egypt on Sunday for talks that included Qatari and Egyptian mediators as well as CIA Director William Burns. Burn's presence underlined rising pressure from Israel's main ally the US for a deal that would free Israeli hostages held in Gaza and get aid to Palestinian civilians left destitute by six months of conflict.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a date was set for an invasion of Rafah, an operation considered vital to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of the 133 hostages still held by the terror group.
