'Israel' the one refusing to halt war, Hamas official says
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A top Hamas official underlines that the Resistance movement is unwavering when it comes to its terms to end the war, which were met by the US proposal as "Israel" disregards them.
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Hamas senior official Ghazi Hamad in an undated photo (News websites)
Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad emphasized that the onus is now on the Israeli occupation to take action, stating that Hamas had no new proposals to either accept or reject. Speaking to Al Mayadeen, Hamad expressed a willingness to be flexible but lamented Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to consider recent overtures, choosing instead to continue the war.
"We viewed Biden's speech positively and showed flexibility, but Netanyahu rejected it and chose to continue the war," Hamad said. He asserted that Hamas believes the occupation is uninterested in reaching an agreement, a sentiment reinforced during negotiation rounds where the Israeli delegation lacked full authority to make decisions.
Hamad highlighted that Netanyahu seems intent on perpetuating the war despite significant pressure on the Israeli occupation to accept a mediator's proposal that Hamas has already approved. He suggested that Netanyahu is mired in the war on Gaza, perceiving that the war's end could lead to his political downfall or imprisonment.
"Our position is clear, while the occupation is in disarray, thinking about the next day and experiencing significant confusion," Hamad said.
He pointed to internal disputes within the Israeli government regarding the deal, noting that the situation had become burdensome for them, with regional changes not favoring the US nor the Israeli occupation.
Hamad criticized the unwavering American support for "Israel", asserting that the occupation's persistence is due to US political backing. "Our stance is clear, precise, and principled, while the problem lies with the Israeli side that consistently says no to ending the war on Gaza," he stated.
Hamad stressed that any decision made by Hamas is a coordinated effort between its internal and external leadership. "No decision has ever been made by one side without the other," he confirmed. Despite the ongoing violence and destruction, Hamad noted that not a single Palestinian in Gaza has expressed willingness to abandon the Resistance.
"Our position has not changed, and we have not compromised on the core issues that ensure a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza," Hamad declared, adding that the Arab stance had yet to reach the necessary level of support.
Biden's ceasefire proposal
Biden laid out a new proposal that involves releasing Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The US President claimed that this is the most effective step toward de-escalating the ongoing war, adding, "With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it."
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
