Israel says Hamas has rejected hostage deal proposal

JESUSALEM/GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: Hamas has rejected the latest proposal for a deal to return Israeli hostages and Israel will continue to pursue its objectives in Gaza “with full force,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

The statement said that the rejection of the proposals showed that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, did not want a deal and was trying to exploit tensions with Iran and bring about a regional escalation of the conflict.