Hamas official Abu Zuhri also added that the group was aiming to “stop the war of extermination” against the people of Gaza and would therefore not accept anything short of a permanent truce, Al Jazeera reports.

He said Hamas believes Israel does not want a ceasefire agreement but is looking to return the captives home without an end to the offensive, which the group rejects.

Abu Zuhri added that the US was not interested in a real agreement.