Hamas says ‘new’ Israeli conditions delaying agreement on Gaza ceasefire

A man repairs bicycles at the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 21, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Hamas said Wednesday (December 25, 2024) that “new conditions” imposed by Israel had delayed the finalisation of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, but acknowledged that negotiations were still proceeding.

“The ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations are continuing in Doha under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt in a serious manner… but the occupation has set new conditions concerning withdrawal (of troops), the ceasefire, prisoners, and the return of displaced people, which has delayed reaching an agreement,” the Palestinian militant group said in a statement.