Hamas said on Monday it had informed mediators that it will stick to its original position on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire, which includes the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, a return of displaced Palestinians, and a ‘real’ exchange of prisoners.
Hamas’s response comes after Israel agreed on Saturday to a compromise proposed by the US regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released and was waiting for the terror group’s response.
According to Israeli media on Sunday, citing Israeli officials, Israel reportedly agreed to release some 700-800 Palestinian prisoners in return for 40 hostages.
On March 14, Hamas released a press statement presenting a “comprehensive framework” of “principles and foundations deemed necessary for an agreement.” The terror group demanded “to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza and provide relief and assistance to them, as well as the return of displaced persons to their homes, and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the sector.”
Hamas’s statement
A message published on Hamas’s official Telegram channel read, “The Hamas movement informed the mediator brothers a short while ago that the movement is adhering to its position and vision that it presented on March 14.
“The occupation’s response did not respond to any of the basic demands of our people and our resistance: (a comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced, and a real exchange of prisoners),” it continued.
“Accordingly, the movement reiterates that Netanyahu and his extremist government bear full responsibility for thwarting all negotiation efforts and obstructing reaching an agreement so far,” it concluded.
Following Hamas’s response, Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the Israeli delegation was leaving Qatar, where the negotiations were being held.
Netanyahu: ‘Israel will not submit to Hamas’s delusional demands’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released on Tuesday, “Hamas’s position clearly proves that Hamas is not interested in continuing negotiations for a deal and is an unfortunate testimony to the damage created by the Security Council’s decision.
“Hamas once again rejected any American compromise proposal and repeated its extreme demands: an immediate end to the war, a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip, and the remaining in power so that it could repeat the massacre of October 7 again and again, as it had promised to do,” the statement continued.
“Hamas has refused any American compromise proposal and also welcomed the Security Council’s decision.
“Israel will not submit to Hamas’s delusional demands and will continue to act to achieve all the goals of the war: to release all the hostages, to destroy Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
Eve Young contributed to this report.
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