Amid ongoing negotiations to reach an agreement to halt the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, which has lasted for nine months, Hamas has made a new statement on the matter. The spokesperson for Hamas, Jihad Taha, emphasized that the U.S. administration and Israel are responsible for the failure of ceasefire efforts. He stated in an interview with Al Arabiya that the movement is open to successful mediation efforts, as they serve the issues of the Palestinian people. He continued that the movement remains firm in its announced conditions for a ceasefire, accusing Israel of obstructing attempts at a solution and truce.
In a related context, another source from the movement indicated that media leaks suggesting that Hamas agreed to negotiate regarding hostages without a ceasefire is inaccurate, stressing that discussing the details does not benefit the negotiations. He explained to Al Arabiya that the movement’s position is firm and based on two fundamentals: a comprehensive ceasefire and a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He also noted that Israel wants to negotiate solely on the prisoner issue, while Hamas desires comprehensive negotiations.
The movement announced that it is waiting for an Israeli response to what has been agreed upon with mediators after extensive consultations. These warnings come at a time when mediators are gathering to find a solution. John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, announced to reporters on Monday that two senior U.S. officials are currently in Cairo for discussions aimed at achieving a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, adding that there are still gaps between the two sides. He further noted that CIA Director William Burns and U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk are in Egypt to meet with Egyptian, Jordanian, and Israeli officials and that there will be "follow-up discussions" in the coming days.
He continued by stating, "There are still some remaining gaps between the positions of both sides, but we would not have sent a team there if we didn't think there was a chance of making progress." He added, "We are trying to bridge these gaps as best as we can." It is worth noting that last week, Hamas dropped its demand for Israel to commit to a ceasefire before the movement signs any agreement. This development prompted an Israeli negotiating team official to state that there is a real opportunity for an agreement.
