Hamas has reportedly rejected the latest US attempt to broker peace in Gaza by issuing an outrageous demand designed to permanently solidify its terror control over the enclave.

In a statement on Thursday, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh announced he would only consider an agreement based on a “permanent ending of the Israeli aggression” through a full military withdrawal. A senior Hamas official confirmed to Reuters that Haniyeh’s remarks indeed constituted the terror group’s formal rejection of the proposal.

“After looking at the content of the Israeli proposal, it became clear that the outline that does not lay down the right foundations for the desired agreement, as it does not guarantee a permanent cease-fire, but a temporary cease-fire,” the Hamas official stated.

“The three phases established are unrelated from one phase to the next, with the aim of reducing the agreement for all its phases to one phase in which aggression temporarily ceases, their forces remain in the territory of the Gaza Strip and the occupation obtains in return the hostages it is interested in, and then it will renew the war of extermination against our people.”

According to three US officials cited by Reuters, the White House unveiled its ceasefire proposal without first consulting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This calculated snub to long-standing protocols governing US cooperation with its closest regional partner was intended to “narrow the room” for either side to reject President Biden’s terms.

“We didn’t ask permission to announce the proposal,” one official said. “We informed the Israelis we were going to give a speech on the situation in Gaza. We did not go into great detail about what it was.”

Despite facing withering domestic pressure over his inability to bring Israel’s remaining hostages home, Netanyahu has reportedly concluded any further talks with the terror organization. Having rebuffed repeated short-term ceasefires proposed by Washington over the past eight months, Israel appears to have reached the end of its patience with diplomatic half-measures.