GAZA CITY: Palestinian resistance group Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh reiterated the group’s demand for a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, rejecting anything less than an end to the Israeli bombardment and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territory.
The statement from Haniyeh, based in Qatar, comes in response to US President Joe Biden’s call for a temporary truce to facilitate the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. While negotiations have been ongoing in Cairo this week, the outcome remains uncertain.
Haniyeh highlighted Hamas’s key demands, including the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, the safe return of displaced persons to their homes, and the release of Palestinian prisoners serving long sentences in Israeli jails.
Israel Rejects Hamas’s Demand for Ceasefire
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed the resistance group’s demands as “bizarre,” complicating the negotiation process.
The talks, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, have seen the involvement of high-ranking officials such as CIA director William Burns and Israel’s Mossad head David Barnea. Pressure from Israeli families of hostages has added to the urgency of reaching a resolution.
The October 7 attack by Palestinian militants led to the capture of approximately 250 hostages, with around 130 still held in Gaza.
