AhlulBayt News Agency: A senior Hamas official has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately obstructing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza by setting “impossible conditions.” In a statement on Sunday, Mahmoud Mardawi said Netanyahu’s demands are designed to sabotage both a truce and a prisoner exchange deal.
Mardawi added that Netanyahu is backtracking on terms he had previously accepted and now insists on releasing only 10 captives in the first phase, rather than all at once. He accused Netanyahu of dishonesty, saying, “He does not want a deal.”
Hamas continues to demand an end to Israeli aggression and a full military withdrawal from areas occupied since the March ceasefire collapse. The group maintains that any agreement must include these conditions.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has renewed calls for a ceasefire, claiming a deal could be reached within a week. “I think it’s close,” he said, though he did not disclose who he had spoken with.
Trump’s optimism has been met with skepticism, as Israeli attacks intensify and no formal negotiations are underway. Observers note that the humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to rise, with over 56,500 Palestinians killed since October 2023.
Analysts suggest that momentum for a ceasefire grew after the US and Israel suffered a strategic setback during the 12-day war with Iran. Israel was forced to declare a unilateral truce on June 24 after enduring 22 waves of Iranian missile strikes.
Despite the ceasefire with Iran, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza continues. Nearly 90 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours alone. The UN reports that over 550 people have died while trying to access food under the current US-Israeli aid system.
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