AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): A senior Hamas official has blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the deaths of Israeli hostages in Gaza and the failure of ceasefire negotiations.
Hussam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, stated, "Netanyahu is obstructing any chance of an agreement and is responsible for the deaths of the hostages."Badran emphasized that Hamas has not introduced any new conditions since agreeing to U.S. President Joe Biden’s proposed plan.
"Everyone knows that the main obstacle to reaching an agreement is Netanyahu himself," he added.He reiterated Hamas' commitment to a ceasefire deal and its determination to reach an agreement to end the ongoing war.
"We are committed to what has already been agreed upon, and we remain resolute in achieving a resolution."Badran also stressed Hamas' right to resist Israeli occupation and maintain resilience against the regime's attempts to obliterate the Palestinian cause, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.
The Hamas official warned that the escalating Israeli crimes against West Bank residents would never deter the Palestinian people from continuing their resistance.
As the deadly Gaza war enters its twelfth month, Israel and Hamas, under the mediation of Qatar and Egypt and with the involvement of the United States, have been engaged in indirect, tumultuous negotiations for several months to reach a ceasefire agreement.
One of the most contentious issues in the talks is Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining Israeli control over the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land along the Gaza-Egypt border. Meanwhile, Hamas demands the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.
Israel's state broadcaster previously reported that David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, emphasized the regime’s stance on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor during the first phase of the potential agreement, claiming that withdrawal would only take place in a second phase.
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