GAZA (National Times) Hamas has released a new statement rejecting US accusations that it is blocking a ceasefire deal, Al Jazeera reports.

In its statement, Hamas said the claim by Blinken that it is backing away from a deal is “misleading”. The group stressed it is eager to reach a deal and remains committed to the US and UN-backed ceasefire framework put forward in June.

Hamas says the US is bowing to pressure from Israel in the ceasefire negotiations and major sticking points remain after a plan put forward by President Biden.

“Biden’s proposal states that Israel would entirely retreat in two phases and a complete ceasefire. Whereas the Israeli demands include only a temporary ceasefire for six weeks,” senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said.

“It means a big military force will remain in the Philadelphi Corridor and stay in the Rafah crossing, which means restricting aid to Israeli approval.”