LONDON, November 9./TASS/. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is against the idea of a five-day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of some hostages held by Hamas, The Guardian reported referring to its sources.

According to the paper, Netanyahu has rejected the deal several times already - first immediately after the Hamas attack on October 7 and then after the launch of the Israeli ground offensive at the end of October. "The Israeli prime minister’s office was asked to comment on the hostage negotiations but had not given a response by Thursday evening," the paper said.

The sources said Israel had demanded that Hamas provide a full list of hostages complete with names, while Hamas "responded that it was unable to provide the list without a pause in the fighting."

"Indirect negotiations between Israeli officials and Hamas, mediated by Qatar as the two groups do not officially have contact, have recently focused on the possibility of a ceasefire lasting between one and three days, tied to the release of between 10 and 15 hostages," The Guardian said.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the radical Palestinian movement Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and has been delivering rocket attacks on Gaza as well as some districts in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.