Previously, Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected Hamas’ demand to end the war. (File)
Doha:
Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday accused Israel’s prime minister of sabotaging the efforts of mediators involved in ongoing negotiations aimed at a truce and hostage exchange in Gaza.
Qatar-based Haniyeh said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to “constantly invent justifications for the continuation of aggression, expanding the circle of conflict and sabotaging efforts made through various mediators and parties.”
Mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the US met with a Hamas delegation in Cairo on Saturday in the latest attempt to end the devastating nearly seven-month war that has triggered protests around the world.
A senior Hamas source close to the talks told AFP there would be “a new round” of talks on Sunday.
Negotiators seeking to end the devastating war have proposed an initial 40-day pause in fighting and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Haniyeh said Hamas approached the negotiations with “seriousness and positivity” but questioned “the meaning of an agreement if a ceasefire is not its first outcome.”
Previously, Netanyahu had rejected Hamas’ demand to end the war.
Israel “was not ready to accept a situation in which Hamas battalions would emerge from their bunkers, take control of Gaza again, rebuild their military infrastructure and once again threaten the citizens of Israel,” he said.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying for months to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The leader of the Qatar-based Hamas political bureau said the United States “provided cover for this occupation, it should be the one to stop it, instead of providing it with weapons of destruction and extermination.”
Haniyeh added that Hamas “remains eager to reach a comprehensive and interlinked agreement in stages, ending the aggression, ensuring the withdrawal and reaching a serious prisoner exchange agreement.”
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