Hamas Accuses Israel's Netanyahu of Sabotaging Ceasefire Talks

 On Sunday, Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately obstructing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, alleging that he is imposing new conditions and demands to sabotage the work of mediators and extend the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In a statement, Hamas emphasized that it has cooperated fully with the mediators from Qatar and Egypt, as well as with all proposals aimed at ending the bloodshed in Gaza and facilitating a prisoner exchange deal. "We have acted responsibly and in good faith," the statement read, "to stop the aggression against our people, and to end the genocidal war and the brutal massacres perpetrated by the Israeli government and its military against our Palestinian people in Gaza."

The group pointed out that it had agreed to a proposal from the mediators on May 6, 2024, and welcomed the announcement made by President Biden, as well as the decision of the UN Security Council. Additionally, Hamas expressed its approval of the mediators' subsequent proposal on July 2, 2024, calling for a clear implementation plan to avoid endless negotiations.

Hamas further criticized Netanyahu for allegedly stalling the negotiations by introducing new conditions and demands, which they claim serve his strategy to buy time and prolong the military operations. According to Hamas, the latest proposal discussed during the recent round of talks in Doha appeared to align with Netanyahu's demands, especially his refusal to agree to a permanent ceasefire and his insistence on maintaining control over key strategic points, including the Netzarim junction, the Rafah crossing, and the Philadelphi Corridor.

Hamas argued that Netanyahu’s new conditions on the prisoner exchange and his reneging on previously agreed-upon terms are preventing the conclusion of a potential deal. The group expressed frustration over the continuous cycle of unproductive talks and blamed Netanyahu for the failure to reach a ceasefire agreement.