DOHA, May  10, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Hamas said Friday that Israel's rejection

of a truce plan submitted by mediators at talks in Cairo had sent talks on a
ceasefire and hostage release back to "square one".

"The rejection of the mediators' proposal by Israel... has returned matters
to square one," the militant group said in an English-language statement, a day
after Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams left Cairo talks on the terms of a
truce without a deal.

Hamas said it had agreed to the plan which involved the withdrawal of
Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced civilians and the exchange of
hostages for Palestinian prisoners, with the aim of a "permanent ceasefire" --
something Israel has long resisted insisting it must first finish dismantling
Hamas.