US rejects 'impractical' Hamas demands as Gaza truce hangs in balance

Talks to widen the Gaza ceasefire person failed to scope an agreement, a Palestinian authoritative has told the BBC, arsenic the US accused Hamas of making "entirely impractical" demands astatine meetings successful Qatar.

Negotiators person been trying to find a mode guardant aft the archetypal signifier of the impermanent truce ended connected 1 March.

The US projected to widen the archetypal signifier until mid-April, including a further speech of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

But the unnamed Palestinian authoritative said Israel and Hamas disagreed implicit cardinal aspects of the woody acceptable retired by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff astatine the indirect talks.

Israel is yet to comment, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bureau said helium would person a study from Israel's negotiating squad aboriginal connected Saturday.

The White House accused Hamas of making "entirely impractical" demands successful its effect to Witkoff's proposal.

It would widen the ceasefire into April but hold the dialog of a imperishable extremity to the war.

A connection from Witkoff's bureau and the US National Security Council connected Friday said: "Hamas is making a precise atrocious stake that clip is connected its side. It is not."

"Hamas is good alert of the deadline, and should cognize that we volition respond accordingly if that deadline passes."

A Hamas connection seen by the BBC said negotiations had breached down.

Netanyahu's bureau had earlier said Israel accepted the US proposal.

It said Hamas remained "firm successful its refusal and has not budged a millimetre," accusing the radical of "manipulation and intelligence warfare".

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire woody involving 3 stages successful January, aft 15 months of war.

In the archetypal stage, Hamas returned 25 surviving Israeli hostages, the remains of 8 others, and 5 surviving Thai hostages. Israel released astir 1,800 Palestinian prisoners successful exchange.

The woody says signifier 2 volition see the remaining surviving hostages successful Gaza exchanged for much Palestinian prisoners.

But some sides presently disagree connected the fig of hostages owed to beryllium released next.

They besides disagree connected the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, which the archetypal woody states should beryllium happening by now.

Israel resists this point, portion Hamas insists it should happen.

Israel has halted each assistance and energy to Gaza, including nutrient and fuel, saying it aims to enactment unit connected Hamas.

It is believed that Hamas is inactive holding up to 24 surviving hostages successful Gaza and the remains of 35 others.

As indirect talks continued connected Friday, the radical said successful a connection it was acceptable to merchandise the past surviving Israeli-American hostage it is known to beryllium holding.

Edan Alexander, 21 was serving arsenic an Israeli worker adjacent to Gaza erstwhile helium was taken.

Under the presumption of the archetypal ceasefire agreement, it was expected that helium would person been among the past hostages to beryllium released.

The radical besides said it would manus implicit the remains of 4 different dual nationals captured during the 7 October 2023 attacks.

It did not springiness further details oregon marque wide what it would request successful return.

Witkoff dismissed the offer, saying Hamas was trying to look flexible successful nationalist portion being impractical successful private.

The attacks led by Hamas connected 7 October 2023 killed much than 1,200 radical successful confederate Israel, mostly civilians, with 251 taken hostage.

The battle triggered an Israeli subject violative that has since killed much than 48,520 people, astir of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run wellness ministry which are utilized by the UN and others.

Most of Gaza's 2.1 cardinal colonisation has been displaced aggregate times.

An estimated 70% of buildings person been damaged oregon destroyed, healthcare, water, and sanitation systems person collapsed and determination are shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter.