Hamas officially announced on Friday that the negotiations with Israel for a permanent ceasefire failedafter Israel rejected her proposals, including demands for a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced persons and a prisoner exchange.

“Israel’s rejection of the mediators’ proposal, through the amendments they made to it, brought things back to square one,” Hamas said.

The terrorist organization claimed that Israel bears “full responsibility” for failure to reach an agreement.

“The enemy army’s attack on Rafah and the direct occupation of the crossing immediately after Hamas announced its agreement with the mediators’ proposal confirms that the occupiers are avoiding reaching an agreement. Netanyahu and his extremist government use the negotiationss as a cover for the attack on Rafa seizing the crossing and continuing the genocide against our people,” Hamas said.

Hamas wants “calm” and a real deal to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the war to continue, said Khalil Al-Haya, a high-ranking official of the Palestinian organization. Hamas did not suspend or withdraw from the ceasefire negotiations, Al Hayya added.

At least 34,943 Palestinians have been killed and 78,572 injured in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since October 7, the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said. In the past 24 hours, at least 39 Palestinians have been killed, according to the statement.

The UN General Assembly supports the Palestinian request for membership in the Organization

In the meantime, the General Assembly of the United Nations, supported today Friday, by an overwhelming majority, the request of the Palestinians for their inclusion, as a full member, in the Organization, a resolution that is, however, of a symbolic nature since the US is expected to veto it when it is discussed in the Security Council.

The resolution recognizing that the Palestinians meet the criteria for membership and should “join the Organization”, giving them some additional rights as “observers”, received 143 votes in favor, 9 against and 25 abstentions. Among the nine that voted against it were the US and Israel.

The General Assembly thus returns the request to the Security Council and recommends that he “reconsider the matter favourably”.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry reacted immediately, characterizing “gift to Hamas” the decision of the General Assembly.