The head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas," Ismail Haniya, confirmed that "October 7th is a historical turning point in the Palestinian cause and a strategic shift in the course of the struggle against the occupying Zionist enemy, as it has brought the Palestinian issue back to the forefront of the global scene in accordance with its political and humanitarian dimensions and its sacred centrality, after colonial forces tried to render it forgotten and marginal in history."
He stated, "In the past months, we have moved through the field front led by the resistance factions, primarily the Al-Qassam Brigades, which defend their people in all combat sectors, on every inch and in every street of our beloved Gaza Strip, recording glorious pages in the history of this people's resistance and its successive uprisings and revolutions. I want to clarify to our people in general, our nation, and the free people of the world, but primarily to our people in Gaza, that from the outset of this negotiation path through the brotherly mediators in Qatar and Egypt, we set several controls to reach an agreement, the most important of which is that we want an agreement that leads to a ceasefire."
He added, "Since the beginning of our negotiation process, we have set three controls to reach an agreement: 'the cessation of war, translating steadfastness and sacrifices into real achievements for our people, and thwarting any suspicious plans targeting Gaza.'"
Haniya continued, "We established five principles during the negotiations: a comprehensive ceasefire, ending the war, complete withdrawal, the return of displaced persons, delivering aid, and exchanging prisoners."
Haniya pointed out that "the enemy is evading the logical requirement of the prisoner exchange issue, for which Israel is responsible for the failure to reach an agreement. Nevertheless, we remain open to any formulas that achieve the principles and end the aggression against our Palestinian people."
He affirmed, "We are ready to continue the agreement if we receive a clear position regarding the commitment to the withdrawal of the occupation from Gaza, the cessation of aggression, and the return of the displaced." He noted that "just hours before my speech, I contacted the mediators, and we did not receive any commitment from the Israeli enemy to stop the war on Gaza. The enemy did not provide any commitment regarding the return of the displaced to their original areas, and it only speaks of a gradual return for the displaced without clarifying what that means. It also evades the logical requirement of the prisoner exchange issue."
Haniya revealed: "We are following up on the arrangements concerning the internal Palestinian situation, and we care now more than ever about the unity of our people and rebuilding its components. We have presented a political approach to end the Zionist occupation in the West Bank and Gaza and establish the Palestinian state with its capital in Jerusalem. I would also like to salute all the resistance fronts that support our people's battle and the resistance."
