Hamas leader accuses Israel of sabotaging efforts for a truce in Gaza: “Netanyahu wants to continue aggression”

The leader of the Palestinian movement Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, accused Israel on Sunday of sabotaging mediation efforts for a truce in Gaza associated with the release of hostages held in the Palestinian territory, reports France Presse, according to Agerpres.

Haniyeh stated in a statement that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, wants to “invent constant justifications to continue the aggression, expand (…) the conflict and sabotage the efforts of the mediators and the various parties”.

Representatives of the mediators – Qatar, Egypt and the United States – are in Cairo, where a Hamas delegation traveled on Saturday and Sunday for further talks on a truce.

The mediators’ offer, presented to Hamas in late April, calls for a temporary truce combined with the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in exchange for the release of hostages kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war.

But hours before talks resumed Sunday in Cairo, a Hamas official said his movement “will under no circumstances accept an agreement that does not explicitly provide for an end to the war.”

Hamas ‘remains keen to reach comprehensive deal’

Hamas approached the talks with “seriousness and positivity”, but questioned “the meaning of an agreement if the first result is not a ceasefire”, explained Haniyeh, who is in Doha.

He added that Hamas “remains keen to reach a comprehensive agreement”, “in stages”, “that would end the aggression, guarantee (Israel’s) withdrawal from Gaza and lead to a serious agreement on the exchange” of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners.

Israel “cannot accept” Hamas’ request, Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier, after vowing to annihilate the Palestinian Islamist movement following the October 7 attack.

Publisher: BC

Download the Digi24 app and find out the most important news of the day