Hamas accuses Netanyahu of stalling 2nd phase of ceasefire agreement
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The accusations come just a day after "Israel" set strict and unreasonable conditions for the second phase of the ceasefire.
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Hamas fighters take up a position ahead of handing over the bodies of four Israeli captives, including a mother and her two children, who had long been feared dead, to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, February 20, 2025 (AP)
Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, following the exchange of the bodies of four deceased Israeli captives on Thursday.
This marked the seventh exchange since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, ending 15 months of massacres and destruction led by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).
According to Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou, the second phase of the ceasefire agreement has "not practically begun", despite Hamas being "ready to engage in them as stipulated in the agreement." Al-Qanou stated that "Netanyahu is procrastinating regarding the second phase," suggesting a deliberate attempt by "Israel's" leadership to delay progress.
The accusations come just a day after "Israel" set strict and unreasonable conditions for the second phase of the ceasefire.
According to "Israel's" Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC), "Israel" will begin negotiations with the following demands:
- Complete disarmament of Gaza, including the removal of all weaponry
- Exclusion of Hamas from governance, aiming to neutralize Palestinian Resistance
- Release of all Israeli captives in one exchange, without guarantees for the rights of Palestinian prisoners
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Tuesday that talks on the second phase would begin this week. However, conflicting reports later emerged on the matter, reflecting political divisions within the Israeli leadership.
Ongoing violations and aggression
Despite the ceasefire, "Israel" continues to violate the truce with ongoing airstrikes and aggression in Gaza. Earlier today, an Israeli drone strike targeted a gathering of Palestinians east of the southern city of Rafah, killing at least one and injuring several others.
Hamas remains firm in its stance, refusing to compromise on Palestinian sovereignty and resistance against Israeli occupation. Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu reiterated Hamas' willingness to release all remaining captives in a single exchange during the second phase but warned against Israeli political games aimed at weakening Palestinian unity.
Read more: Conflicting Israeli reports emerge on second phase of Gaza ceasefire
The second phase of the ceasefire is intended to build on the initial prisoner exchanges and lay the groundwork for a more durable truce. However, with unreasonable demands imposed by "Israel", the negotiations face significant challenges.
