Hamas pushes Gaza truce, despite absence of Israeli negotiators, famine concerns: ‘we want a ceasefire now’

Hamas said on Wednesday it was pressing on with efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza with Israel, despite the absence of Israeli negotiators from talks in Egypt.

Negotiators from the Palestinian militant group, Qatar and Egypt are in Cairo trying to secure a 40-day ceasefire in the war between Israel and the Islamist group in time for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins early next week.

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday it was in the hands of Hamas whether to accept a deal on the table for a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.

“We are showing the required flexibility in order to reach a comprehensive cessation of aggression against our people, but the occupation is still evading the entitlements of this agreement,” Hamas said in a statement.

Israeli forces, aiming to eradicate Hamas following its deadly raid on Israel on October 7, have continued bombarding Gaza during three days of talks in Cairo, and the dire humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave has deteriorated further.