DOHA: Hamas on Tuesday strongly condemned claims by US President Joe Biden that the Palestinian group was backing away from a Gaza ceasefire deal, calling his remarks a “green light” for Israel to continue its brutal bombardment campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 40,139 Palestinians since October 7.
The “misleading claims… do not reflect the true position of the Palestinian movement, which is keen to reach a ceasefire” agreement, Hamas said in a statement.
The Palestinian group’s condemnation came amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in talks with regional leaders.
Hamas rejected Biden’s claims that it was retreating from a proposed truce deal, describing his remarks as “misleading” and reflecting a clear “American bias” towards Israel. The Palestinian group argued that Biden’s comments amounted to an endorsement of the Israeli government’s actions of targeting “defenceless civilians” in Gaza.
Biden, in his address at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, remarked on the state of negotiations concerning the Gaza conflict. Hamas viewed these remarks as an “American green light” for the Israeli government, which they accuse of committing “more crimes” against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Hamas’s statement came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Egypt Tuesday for talks on a Gaza ceasefire.
Blinken, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, will afterwards head to Qatar, which along with Egypt is brokering negotiations for a truce in the 10-month-old conflict.
Hamas said it is committed to a ceasefire framework outlined by Biden on May 31 which he said had been proposed by Israel.
It described the latest US modifications to that plan as “a coup against” the previous framework, accusing Washington of “acquiescing” to conditions set by Netanyahu.
“Netanyahu was always the one obstructing an agreement and setting new conditions and demands,” Hamas said, calling on “the US administration to reverse its policy of blind bias towards the Zionist war criminals.”
It called on the “mediators to assume their responsibilities” and oblige Israel to accept the original proposal.
Earlier, Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan has criticized US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an updated proposal, adding it “raises many ambiguities” because it is “not what was presented to us nor what we agreed on.”
He told Reuters that Hamas has already confirmed to mediators that they don’t need new Gaza ceasefire talks, they need to agree on an implementation mechanism.
Earlier, Blinken urged Israel and Hamas not to derail the ceasefire talks that he stated may be a “last opportunity” to secure a Gaza truce and hostage release agreement.
The US Secretary of State, who met with the Israeli President and Prime Minister, emphasized that the current moment may represent the best and last opportunity to obtain a truce and facilitate the return of captives.
Hamas asserted “a permanent truce and a comprehensive withdrawal from Gaza”, adding Netanyahu wanted to keep Israeli troops at several strategic locations. Israeli Prime Minister was “fully responsible for thwarting the efforts of the mediators”, Hamas said in a statement.
Efforts to broker a truce have been ongoing for months, but recent events have further intensified the stakes. The late July assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip have added more pressure to the negotiations. The humanitarian crisis in the besieged Strip has also worsened, with reports of widespread destruction and a dire need for help amid ongoing Israeli bombardments.
The Israeli military has continued its offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip and since October 7, Israeli bombardments have killed more than 40,139 Palestinians, mostly women and children, health ministry said.
The ongoing violence has also affected journalists; the Committee to Protect Journalists has reported the deaths of more than 100 Palestinian media workers since the beginning of the war between Hamas and Israel. On Sunday, Gazan photojournalist Ibrahim Muhareb was also killed, and his funeral was marked by the presence of his “PRESS” vest.
