Hamas accuse Netanyahu of sabotaging ceasefire deal

Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of preventing a ceasefire in Gaza by adding further conditions and demands to a US-backed truce.

The Palestinian group said it received feedback from Israel after talks in Rome involving Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

"It is clear from what the mediators conveyed that Netanyahu has returned to his strategy of procrastination, evasion, and avoiding reaching an agreement by setting new conditions and demands," Hamas said in a statement on Monday.

Washington, which sponsors the talks, has repeatedly said a deal is close; the latest talks are over a proposal President Joe Biden unveiled in May.

Hamas wants a ceasefire agreement to end the war in Gaza, while Netanyahu says the conflict will stop only once Hamas is defeated. There are also disagreements over how a deal would be implemented.