Hamas rejects Israel's offer of a 7-day truce in exchange for 40 hostages but negotiations continue

Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected Israel's bid to revive hostage negotiations by rejecting a proposal for a week-long truce in the Gaza Strip in exchange for 40 hostages. The group reportedly told Israel that it wouldn't engage in negotiations until a pause in its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The proposal put forth by Israel required Hamas to release all women, children and elderly male hostages who require urgent medical care in exchange for a pause in air and ground operations in Gaza for a week. It would also ensure the flow of aid into the coastal territory, The Wall Street Journal quoted Egyptian officials engaged in talks.

But Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which took part in the negotiations for the first time, told Egyptian mediators that Israel must pause its offensive in the Strip before they will discuss any potential deal.

The Islamic Jihad also demanded Israel free all Palestinian prisoners for the release of all remaining hostages estimated at some 100.

The offer was presented before Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday. Taher Al-Nono, Haniyeh's media adviser, told Reuters that Hamas was not willing to discuss releasing more Israeli hostages until Israel ends its Gaza offensive and increases the volume of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.

However, Egyptian officials told the Wall Street Journal said this shouldn't be viewed as a failure in the negotiations and that the terror group rejected the offer to wriggle further concession from Israel.