Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports of a potential ceasefire deal in Gaza, dismissing them as “absolutely false.”
Media outlets had speculated that Israel and Hamas were nearing an agreement involving a week-long ceasefire, expanded humanitarian aid to Gaza, and steps to rebuild the enclave’s battered health infrastructure. In return, Hamas was said to offer a detailed list of living hostages and information on deceased ones, including their burial sites.
Netanyahu’s office issued a statement refuting the claims, accusing Hamas of engaging in “psychological warfare.” The statement clarified, “Israel has not agreed to a pause in the war in exchange for a list of hostages.”
The denial comes as negotiators convened in Doha in an effort to mediate an agreement between the two sides. The ongoing conflict, which began in October 2023, has claimed thousands of lives and left hundreds of hostages in captivity in Gaza.
Efforts to secure the release of approximately 100 hostages remain a focal point of negotiations. Meanwhile, international pressure continues to mount for a resolution to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.
