Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations Without Tangible Progress; Hamas: No Ceasefire Without Ending War

Hamas officials say negotiations for a 40-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages that began on Saturday in Cairo have ended without tangible progress and will continue on Sunday. A senior Hamas official emphasized late Saturday that the group will not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza that does not explicitly include an end to the war 'under any circumstances.' Earlier, Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would not agree to end the war as part of a deal with Hamas. Meanwhile, Arabic media reported on Saturday morning that Hamas would soon announce its acceptance of Egypt's proposed plan. Egyptian sources say Israel has given Hamas a week to accept the current draft agreement, or it will begin an attack on Rafah. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated warnings about a major Israeli attack on Rafah in the Gaza Strip, stating that 'Israel has not provided a plan to protect civilians.' According to AFP, Blinken said at a meeting at the McCain Institute in Arizona, 'In the absence of such a plan, we cannot support a large military operation taking place in Rafah, as the harm caused by this operation exceeds acceptable limits.' Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, warned about the Israeli ground attack on Rafah, stating that such operations could lead to a 'bloodbath.' Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge in southern Gaza as this land has been devastated following the war that began on October 7 after a terrorist attack by Hamas militants on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. The latest developments regarding negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages have seen protesters in Tel Aviv calling for early elections and the release of hostages. The countdown to the start of 'Eurovision' continues; Mahan Moein stated that music is a factor for creating peace and friendship. Blinken warned that the large-scale operation of the Israeli army in Rafah would cause damage 'beyond acceptable limits.' Arabic media reported that Hamas would soon announce its acceptance of Egypt's proposed plan.