Netanyahu, Hamas trade blame over cease-fire talks failure
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas traded blame early Sunday for the two sides' inability to reach a cease-fire deal, as both responded to the recovery of six hostages' bodies from Gaza.
Netanyahu released a statement accusing Hamas of refusing to negotiate, saying he was ready to move forward with a deal on May 27 -- with the backing of the U.S. -- and an updated proposal on Aug. 16, when Hamas was not taking part in negotiations after the killing of its political chief and lead negotiator Ismail Haniyeh.
![PHOTO: A woman rides an electric cycle next to the poster depicting Alexander Lobanov, whose body was retrieved from Gaza, displayed together with the posters of other hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sept. 1, 2024.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/6e5a0c72-2da2-4ab3-b475-2c1ab11aea25/bring-them-home_1725186982536_hpMain.jpg)
Hamas, for its part, said in a statement that Israel insists on continuing the war and "evading" a cease-fire agreement. The group blamed Israel and the U.S. for the deaths of the hostages recovered on Saturday, saying the six captives were killed by Israeli bombing.
Hamas said it agreed to one of the U.S. proposals for a deal, but that Netanyahu added conditions -- backed by the U.S. -- which were unacceptable.
Netanyahu's conditions, the group alleged, were "aimed at obstructing reaching an agreement to preserve his power."
-ABC News' Jordana Miller, Samy Zyara, Guy Davies and Victoria Beaule