The Latest | Netanyahu says Israel won't accept Hamas' demands after it rejected cease-fire proposal

Jerusalem, Mar 26 (AP) Israel's prime minister says they will not accept Hamas' demands for a cease-fire after the militant group rejected the latest proposal for a truce. Hamas rejected the latest cease-fire proposal late Monday with a statement accusing Israel of ignoring its core demands, which include an end to the war and a full withdrawal from Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not give in to Hamas' “delusional” demands and continue to work to destroy the militant group's military and governing capabilities, as well as seek the release of the remaining hostages. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Israeli Army Radio on Tuesday that the United Nations Security Council's approved resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire and the release of all hostages held in Gaza emboldened Hamas to reject the proposed deal. He also criticised the United States, Israel's top ally, for not vetoing the resolution over its lack of a condemnation of Hamas and its October 7 attack.

Some 1,200 people were killed and another 250 people abducted on October 7 when militants launched a surprise attack out of Gaza, triggering the war. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 Israelis hostage, as well as the remains of 30 others.

More than 32,000 people have been killed in the besieged territory and more than 74,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its tally. It says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Currently: — The UN's demand for a cease-fire in Gaza provokes the strongest clash between the US and Israel since the war began.

— US and Israeli defence chiefs will meet Tuesday as tensions rise over Gaza.

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Here's the latest: NETANYAHU SAYS ISRAEL WILL NOT ACCEPT HAMAS' DEMANDS AFTER IT REJECTED THE LATEST CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will not accept Hamas' demands for a cease-fire after the militant group rejected the latest proposal for a truce.

In a statement from his office Tuesday, Netanyahu accused Hamas of being uninterested in proceeding with negotiations toward a deal. He said Hamas' rejection “served as unfortunate testimony to the damage of the Security Council decision,” which on Monday approved a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire and the release of all hostages captured by Hamas, without linking the two.

In a statement late Monday, Hamas said it had informed mediators that it was sticking to its original position, which includes an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Netanyahu said Israel would not give in to Hamas' “delusional” demands and continue to work to destroy the militant group's military and governing capabilities, as well as seek the release of the remaining hostages.

UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTION EMBOLDENED HAMAS TO REJECT CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL, ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS JERUSALEM — The United Nations Security Council's approval of a resolution calling for an immediate end to hostilities emboldened Hamas to reject the latest cease-fire proposal, Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday.

Israel and Hamas are negotiating a cease-fire deal in exchange for the release of dozens of hostages still held by the militant group in Gaza. Hamas said late Monday that it was rejecting the latest proposal and sticking to its core demands, which include an end to the war and a full withdrawal from Gaza.

Katz told Israeli Army Radio that the UN resolution indicated to Hamas that international pressure was closing in on Israel and that it need only wait for the war to end through that pressure rather than agreeing to make any concessions.

“The message delivered to Hamas yesterday … is that you don't have to hurry,” Katz said. He also criticised the United States, Israel's top ally, for not vetoing the resolution over its lack of a condemnation of Hamas and its October 7 attack.

HAMAS REJECTS THE LATEST CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL, SAYING ISRAEL IS IGNORING KEY DEMANDS RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas has rejected the latest cease-fire proposal, accusing Israel of ignoring its core demands, which include an end to the war and a full withdrawal from Gaza.

In a statement late Monday, the militant group said it had informed mediators that it was sticking to its original position, conveyed earlier in March. It said Israel had not responded to its core demands of a “comprehensive cease-fire, an (Israeli) withdrawal from the Strip, the return of displaced people and a real prisoner exchange.” The statement came shortly after the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire and the release of all hostages held in Gaza.

Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 hostages, as well as the remains of around 30 others. More than 100 hostages were freed during a week-long cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas' demands, calling them “delusional.” He has vowed to resume Israel's offensive after any hostage release and keep fighting until Hamas is destroyed. (AP) GSP