GAZA: Chief of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday said the Palestinian group was still open to negotiations with Israel, after mediators failed to reach a Ramadan truce in the Gaza conflict so far.
Haniyeh made the remarks in a televised speech as several Muslim countries announced the commencement of holy g month of Ramadan from Monday.
“I say clearly that the one who bears responsibility for not reaching an agreement is the occupation (Israel)… However, I say that we are open to continuing negotiations,” he said.
Mediators had been trying for a new pause in the war, now in its sixth month, before Ramadan starts.
However, Haniyeh, who is in self-exile in Qatar, said Israel was unwilling to fulfil Hamas’s conditions for a peace deal that would have seen release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
He reaffirmed that Hamas wanted a durable ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced people of Gaza to their homes and enhanced access to humanitarian assistance in the besieged enclave where famine looms.
Israel rejects complete troops withdrawal
Israel has dismissed a complete withdrawal of its troops, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue his military offensive in Gaza, even after any truce deal.
Earlier an Israeli statement had accused Hamas of not interested in a deal and is striving to inflame the area during the month of Ramadan.
Haniyeh went on to say that he was in contact with talks mediators hours before his speech but to no avail.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, Israel bombardment started in Gaza on October 7 has killed at least 31,000 people, mostly women and children so far.
