Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh called Sunday for August 3 to be a national and international day of solidarity with Gaza and Palestinian prisoners.

Haniyeh emphasized the importance of active participation from local, Arab, Islamic, and international communities on this day, as well as the continuation of demonstrations and marches beyond August 3 to pressure the Israeli occupation to end its aggression and crimes against the people of Gaza and the heroic prisoners in Israeli jails and detention camps.

In a press statement, Haniyeh said Sunday, "We hope that August 3 will be a pivotal, significant, and impactful day across all of Palestine, in refugee camps and the diaspora, in our Arab and Islamic world, and among all the free people around the world, to support our people in Gaza and our free prisoners in the occupation's jails."

Haniyeh explained that the designation of August 3 as a day of solidarity with Gaza and the prisoners comes in response to the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the "Nazi-Zionist occupation" against the people of Gaza for the tenth consecutive month, and the unprecedented increase in the number of prisoner martyrs in Israeli jails and detention centers.

"This call comes in light of the international silence and incapacity to stop this aggressive war against our people and prisoners, the full bias, support, and partnership of the US administration in this aggression, and the failure of human rights and humanitarian institutions to take responsibility in providing support and backing to our people in Gaza and our prisoners in the Zionist enemy's jails," Haniyeh concluded.

'Israel' obstructing talks

Hamas believes that the Israeli occupation threatens the people of Gaza, and forces them to move to the southern part of the Strip, to sabotage negotiations, an informed source told Al Mayadeen earlier in the month.

The source added that the Resistance movement considers that negotiations cannot succeed as long as "Israel" tries to impose realities through force and crime. 

Hamas had stated in a press release that the occupation's escalation in aggression against Gaza's neighborhoods, its targeting of tens of thousands of civilians, and forcing them to abandon their homes, represent an adamance on resuming the ongoing genocide against the people of Palestine for more than nine months. 

"The enemy, which exercises the most gruesome violations and aggression against defenseless civilians, with the American administration's full support, will fail to subjugate our resilient people, no matter how much it exacerbates its crimes, and our valiant Resistance will remain heroically defiant to its fascist forces."

Hamas demanded that mediators interfere to put an end to Netanyahu's games and crimes, as well as the United Nations and international community adhere to their legal and moral responsibilities, pressure the occupation to end its genocide against Palestinians and prosecute the occupation's war criminals for their crimes. 

Hamas to keep fighting for ceasefire

Hamas has not presented a formal proposal or response in the ongoing negotiations but rather demonstrated flexibility in the discussions, Hamas representative in Lebanon Ahmed Abdul Hadi told Al Mayadeen.

Abdul Hadi emphasized that Hamas aimed to outline terms they would not be ready to waver on, stressing that the flexibility they are showing pertains to the language of the proposal rather than its contents. "The core issues in the proposal remain intact," he said.

According to the Hamas representative, intermediaries have indicated a positive atmosphere in the negotiations, suggesting that an agreement could be reached.

"The ball is now in the court of the occupation and the United States to continue applying pressure on Netanyahu," Abdul Hadi stated.

Abdul Hadi asserted that the Resistance is prepared for all possibilities, whether Netanyahu retracts or proceeds with the agreement.

"We are approaching this with objectivity and will continue to resist [the Israeli occupation] if no agreement is reached," he added. "If an agreement is achieved, that would be excellent."

He further noted that the Resistance does not trust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or the United States but has confidence in the Resistance itself, the people, and the support fronts.