Hamas Stands Firm Against Ceasefire Without War's End

Hamas is expected to reject any hostage deal that does not include an end to the Gaza war, according to a security source. Despite ongoing mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, no progress has been reported in securing the release of hostages taken during the October 2023 Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel. Talks have been complicated by the lack of new proposals and the urgency of the situation, with only 51 of the 101 remaining hostages confirmed alive. The US is under pressure to broker a deal before President Biden's term ends in January.