JERUSALEM, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Israel has recalled its senior negotiation team from Qatari capital Doha for consultations after about a week of indirect talks with Hamas over a Gaza deal, while Hamas said Tuesday that it holds the Israeli government "fully responsible" for failing to reach an agreement.
"After about a week of intensive talks in Doha, the senior negotiation team will return to Israel for consultations, while working-level officials will remain in Doha for the time being," said a statement issued on Tuesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
The statement said Israel accepts a U.S.-backed proposal presented by Netanyahu in March, which includes the release of additional Israeli hostages in exchange for a 50-day truce and a promise to engage in further negotiations toward a longer-term ceasefire.
However, the proposal does not include a withdrawal of Israeli forces or the release of Palestinian prisoners, two of Hamas's key demands.
Netanyahu's office said the proposal had recently been conveyed to Hamas through mediators, but "so far Hamas continues to cling to its refusal."
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Hamas announced it holds the Israeli government "fully responsible" for failing efforts to reach an agreement.
Hamas said the low-level Israeli team left in Doha lacks any authority to reach an agreement, accusing Netanyahu of "misleading world public opinion and pretending to participate in the negotiation process." According to Hamas, no real negotiations have taken place since Saturday.
The group said the escalation of the Israeli military operations while the delegations were in Doha "exposes Netanyahu's intentions of rejecting any settlement, and reveal his adherence to the option of war and destruction."
The indirect talks, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, have yet to produce a breakthrough after months of negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of the remaining 58 hostages.
Israel resumed military operations in Gaza in March. It escalated the offensive on Saturday with the launch of a large-scale operation that includes plans for a full takeover of Gaza and the displacement of Palestinian civilians to the southern part of the enclave.
According to the health authorities in Gaza, at least 53,573 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began 19 months ago. ■
