Hamas affirms adherence to 'natural demands' during ceasefire talks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Apr 2024 03:31

The Hamas delegation to the ceasefire talks in Cairo stresses the necessity of achieving a prisoner exchange deal.

Destroyed buildings are seen in the Gaza Strip, on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. (AP Photo, File)

A Hamas delegation affirmed Sunday evening the movement's adherence to its natural national demands during negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.

During a meeting with the Egyptian Minister of Intelligence, Abbas Kamel, in the Egyptian capital Cairo, the Hamas delegation emphasized the necessity of achieving an agreement that fully halts aggression, ensures the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, and allows displaced people to return freely to their areas and places of residence, as well as provides relief to the Palestinian people and initiates the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the Israeli occupation.

Hamas added that a prisoner exchange deal must be concluded, whereby Palestinian detainees are released in exchange for Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip.

The movement reiterated its commitment, along with all Palestinian forces and factions, to achieve national objectives and establish a fully sovereign Palestinian state with its capital al-Quds, and the right of return and self-determination.

On Saturday, Hamas announced that a high-level delegation from the movement, led by Khalil al-Hayya, would head to Cairo in response to an Egyptian invitation for ceasefire negotiations.

Egyptian sources described as "high-level" revealed to Al Qahera News that the last hours witnessed intensive communications from the Egyptian side in Cairo to resume the negotiations.

The sources indicated that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman, along with an Israeli delegation, are participating in the Cairo talks.

This comes at a time when Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is escalating his rhetoric about the ongoing war. Earlier, he said that "Israel" is "one step away from victory," after news broke out that almost all Israeli occupation forces combat units withdrew from the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu vowed that his government will not agree to a truce until the Palestinian Resistance frees all Israeli captives.

"We are one step away from victory," he said. "But the price we paid is painful and heartbreaking."

"There will be no ceasefire without the return of hostages. It just won't happen," the Israeli premier reiterated.

In the same context, his Security Minister mentioned that Israeli forces withdrew from Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday "to prepare for future missions, including... in Rafah."

Gallant claimed that Israeli troops were pulled out after months of violent warfare because "Hamas ceased to exist as a military framework" in Khan Younis.