Israel rejects Hamas' pullout demand

GAZA/JERUSALEM — The Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas, announced on Saturday it has responded to mediators in Egypt and Qatar over a proposed cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and reaffirmed its demands.

The movement said in a press statement that it has "submitted its response to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators on the proposal it received last Monday", without giving further details.

Hamas meanwhile reiterated its demands for a permanent cease-fire, the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, the facilitation of relief supplies and aid into Gaza, and the start of reconstruction efforts in the coastal enclave.

The statement emphasized the movement's readiness to conclude a "serious and genuine" prisoner-hostage exchange deal with Israel that the faction had received on April 8.

Later, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said Israel rejected the "unfounded demands" of Hamas for an end to the conflict and a complete withdrawal of its troops from Gaza.

In an immediate response to Hamas' remarks, the office said the Israeli cabinet and the security forces are united in their opposition to these demands.

The office said political instruction given to negotiations focuses on "achieving the release of our hostages and maintaining Israel's security".

It argued that the only obstacle to obtaining the release of the Israeli hostages is Hamas and "not any factor on the Israeli side", and that Hamas "has refused any deal and any compromise proposal".

Cairo hosted a new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas on April 8, in a new attempt to reach agreements leading to a cease-fire and a prisoner exchange.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators, in addition to the United States, seek to reach a deal for a prisoner exchange and a second truce between Israel and Hamas, following the first one that lasted a week until the beginning of December.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that at least 33,729 people have been killed in the territory during the conflict. On the Israeli side, about 1,200 were killed.

Thousands of Israelis rallied against their government on Saturday, with some demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halt fighting in Gaza.

As concern mounts in Israel for the well-being of the remaining hostages, their families and friends have organized increasingly vocal demonstrations.

"Our country's near the abyss. We've already started to drive down and we must stop it. I'm here to gather the force to tell the people that they need to come out and they need to tell our government that it's time to stop," said Marva Erez, 45, who was among demonstrators in Tel Aviv.

Xinhua - Agencies