Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal rejected the softer alteration to the Arab League Peace Initiative that calls for "minor" land swaps between Israel and the Palestinians, The Jerusalem Post reported citing Palestinian news agency Ma'an.

Mashaal said Hamas would continue using all options in order to "liberate the Palestinian territories," as well as release Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jail.

Hamas expressed "deep concern" over the proposal, saying they preferred the Arab League delegation to ask the U.S. "to pressure the occupation into stopping settlement activity on our occupied land."

In a statement, the organization accused Israel of "merely seeking more concessions," adding that Israel "doesn’t want peace, but seeks to impose a fait accompli on our people."