Gaza Herald– A senior Hamas official confirmed that the movement had agreed to the latest proposals but accused the Israeli occupation of stalling whenever progress is made in negotiations. He stated that Israel continues to place obstacles in the way to delay reaching a final agreement, while Hamas remains committed to engaging positively and acting with the necessary urgency.
He also highlighted Israel’s intransigence regarding the aid clause, describing the mere idea of bartering food access for an agreement as a catastrophe. Nevertheless, he said Hamas agreed to include the clause in the deal for the sake of the Palestinian people, despite receiving no clear written terms from the Israeli side.
Withdrawal and Guarantees
Regarding the withdrawal clause, he said that Hamas is rapidly reviewing the mediators’ proposals in consultation with other factions and political groups, noting that Israel has yet to issue an official position on the matter, which continues to hinder progress.
On the issue of guarantees, the official stressed Hamas’s need for clear assurances to prevent Israel from resuming its killing and returning to war. He emphasized that such guarantees are essential to avoid a repeat of what happened after the January 19 agreement.
He reiterated that Hamas is moving quickly on all three points and hopes to finalize them to reach a deal that ends the war. The movement is working around the clock to bring an end to the deepening suffering in Gaza.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a campaign of genocide in Gaza involving mass killings, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring international appeals and defying orders from the International Court of Justice to halt the assault.
This campaign has left over 200,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them women and children, with more than 9,000 missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and widespread famine that has already claimed many lives.
The time for half-measures and political games has long passed. What is unfolding in Gaza is not a conflict but a deliberate campaign of extermination. Any delay in reaching an agreement only prolongs unimaginable human suffering. The international community must stop treating Israel as a state above the law and hold it accountable for its crimes. A just and lasting ceasefire must be built not only on the end of violence but on the recognition of Palestinian rights, dignity, and freedom.
