Hamas chief blames cease-fire stalemate on Israel

Gaza [Palestine], February 18: Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, blamed the current lack of progress in reaching a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip on Israel.
In a statement on Saturday, Haniyeh said that Hamas "will not accept anything less than a complete cessation of the aggression, withdrawal of the occupation army from Gaza, and lifting of the unjust siege."
The Hamas leader also called for providing safe shelter for displaced people, as well as allowing those displaced amid the fighting and the Israeli ground offensive to return to their homes, especially those displaced in the north.
Haniyeh also called for a commitment to the reconstruction of Gaza.
The Egyptian capital Cairo this week hosted high-level negotiations to pause the conflict, though a clear outcome has yet to emerge. On Friday, US President Joe Biden called for a "temporary truce" to secure the release of hostages.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he met Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bis Jassim Al Thani, who has been trying to mediate a cease-fire in the Gaza war.
"I met with the Prime Minister of Qatar yesterday," Herzog said at the Munich Security Conference, according to a statement from his office.
"It was a good discussion. And I think he's making major efforts. He's made major efforts and devoted an enormous focus on this issue."
The presidency in Israel is largely ceremonial without a direct impact on policymaking.
The latest round of peace talks between Israel and Hamas in Cairo, Egypt, broke down on Tuesday without progress.
Source: Times of Oman