DOHA: The Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Monday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sabotaging negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza as international mediators again push for a deal.
The conflict in Gaza has continued for nine months, marked by stalled negotiations that have struggled to achieve a lasting resolution to the conflict.
In a strongly-worded statement, Hamas condemned Netanyahu for what it termed as creating “additional obstacles” in the path of peace talks. The Palestinian group accused the Israeli leader of intensifying “aggression and crimes against our people” in a bid to undermine efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement.
“As heavy Israeli bombardment continues in Gaza City today, Netanyahu’s government has expanded its military operations, leading to further displacement of thousands of Palestinians,” Hamas asserted.
Netanyahu’s office, on Sunday, reiterated Israel’s position that any ceasefire agreement must ensure Israel’s ability to continue military operations until all objectives of the conflict are achieved.
Except for a brief one-week truce in November, during which 80 Israeli hostages were exchanged for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, previous negotiations have faltered primarily due to irreconcilable differences between the parties.
According to officials familiar with the mediation efforts, Egypt and Qatar are scheduled to host new rounds of talks this week. Additionally, it was reported that US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director William Burns would visit Qatar in the coming days.
Hamas indicated a willingness to compromise on its previous demand for a “complete” ceasefire, a condition repeatedly rejected by Israel in past negotiations. The group’s statement affirmed its readiness to cooperate constructively to facilitate an agreement, while urging mediators to counter what it described as “Netanyahu’s obstructive tactics and crimes”.
