Hamas lists Israeli violations of ceasefire, urges second phase talks
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Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan accuses the occupation of "pushing to return things to square one and overturn the agreement through the alternatives it is proposing."
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Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan speaks in a televised statement, on Monday, March 3, 2025 (Screengrab)
"Israel" and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, seek to resume the aggression and crimes against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip following the conclusion of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, while attempting to hide behind the US position, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan pointed out on Monday.
In a televised statement, Hamdan noted that Israeli violations have not stopped since the very first moment of the ceasefire.
"Violations of the agreement during the first phase prove beyond a doubt that the (Israeli) occupation government was interested in the collapse of the agreement and worked hard to this end," he said.
The Palestinian official described Netanyahu’s recent decision to adopt a US proposal for extending the first phase of the agreement—through arrangements that contradict the original terms—as "a blatant attempt to evade the agreement and avoid entering into negotiations for the second phase."
"The occupation is pushing to return things to square one and overturn the agreement through the alternatives it is proposing," Hamdan warned.
In this context, he listed the key violations that "Israel" committed during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Violations related to humanitarian relief, shelter, and protocols
Hamdan said "Israel" prevented the entry of 50 fuel trucks per day as stipulated in the agreement. Over 42 days, only 978 trucks were permitted, averaging just 23 trucks per day.
The occupation also prevented the commercial sector from importing fuel of any kind, despite a clear provision in the agreement allowing it.
Only 15 mobile homes (caravans) were allowed entry out of the 60,000 agreed upon, in addition to a limited number of tents.
"Israel" blocked the entry of heavy machinery needed to clear rubble and recover bodies from under the debris, permitting only nine pieces of equipment, when at least 500 are required.
The occupation denied the entry of construction and finishing materials essential for rebuilding infrastructure and hospitals.
Medical equipment needed for hospital rehabilitation was largely barred, with only five ambulances allowed in, while civil defense equipment was completely denied entry.
"Israel" prevented the operation of the power plant and blocked the delivery of necessary supplies for its rehabilitation.
It also barred cash liquidity from reaching banks and refused to replace worn-out banknotes.
962 field violations
As for field violations, Hamdan emphasized that Israeli occupation forces continued to advance and infiltrate withdrawal lines on an almost daily basis, particularly along the Philadelphi Corridor, exceeding agreed-upon distances by 300 to 500 meters, accompanied by gunfire, civilian killings, home demolitions, and land bulldozing.
"Israel" delayed the withdrawal of its forces from the al-Rashid and Salah al-Din streets, preventing the displaced Palestinians from returning for two full days in clear violation of the agreement.
It also prohibited fishermen from accessing the sea, opening fire on them and arresting several.
Israeli aircraft continued to fly daily during restricted hours, from 10 to 12 hours per day, with 210 recorded air violations, including reconnaissance and armed drone activity.
According to the Hamas official, the total number of these field violations reached 962, detailed as follows:
116 Palestinians killed and 490 wounded
219 aerial incursions
77 shootings
45 ground incursions
37 shelling and targeting operations
Five instances of drivers and fishermen being detained
Violations related to prisoners and detainees
Touching on violations related to the prisoner exchange, Hamdan said "Israel" delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees at every stage, despite the agreement stipulating their release within an hour of the handover of Israeli captives.
The occupation also prevented the release of the final batch of 600 prisoners from the first phase for five days under baseless pretexts.
It forced detainees released on February 15 and 26 to wear clothing with Nazi and racist connotations.
The occupation refused to disclose the status of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Gaza, revealing only the names of 2,400 detainees.
Palestinian prisoners and detainees were subjected to beatings, humiliation, and starvation at the hands of the occupation forces until the moment of their release.
"Israel" also refused to release 70-year-old detainee Siham Mousa Abu Mazen, a resident of Gaza.
Violations at Rafah Crossing
Meanwhile, "Israel" continues to block the Rafah crossing to civilians in both directions and obstruct commercial and humanitarian goods from passing through the crossing, Hamdan noted.
He added that the occupation authorities forced dozens of patients and wounded individuals to return to the Gaza Strip after their travel had been approved.
Violations at Philadelphi Corridor
According to the senior Hamas official, the Israeli side refused to gradually reduce its military presence as mediated agreements had stipulated.
He pointed out that the corridor’s width was supposed to be reduced by 50 meters per week, yet the occupation continued to expand its incursion by hundreds of meters.
In addition, "Israel" did not begin withdrawing from the corridor on the 42nd day of the agreement as scheduled, nor did it complete the withdrawal by the 50th day.
Political violations
Hamdan accused "Israel" of deliberately delaying initiating negotiations for the second phase, despite the agreement mandating that talks begin on the 16th day after signing and proceed under the same conditions as the first phase until mutual agreement is reached.
He said the occupation is now demanding a new agreement that contradicts previously established terms.
The official said that, in response to this aggression and the misinformation campaign waged by "Israel", Hamas affirms that it has fully adhered to all terms of the agreement within the specified timelines, remains committed to advancing the deal to its second phase, and holds the occupation and its backers full responsibility for any consequences resulting from the violations.
Hamdan expressed Hamas' condemnation of the blackmailing employed by Netanyahu and his government through using humanitarian aid as leverage in negotiations, especially after the occupation’s decision to shut border crossings and halt the flow of aid into Gaza.
Hamas called on the international community to compel the occupation to open the crossings and allow the entry of humanitarian assistance, which is a fundamental right protected by international law, the Palestinian official said.
The group also urged the international community and the United Nations to hold "Israel" accountable for adhering to the agreement and proceeding with the second phase, leading to a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the provision of relief and shelter to the displaced, the reconstruction of destruction caused by the occupation, and the implementation of UN Resolution 22735.
In addition, a just solution to the Palestinian cause must be realized, guaranteeing the right to self-determination, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty and al-Quds as its capital, and the return of refugees, Hamdan underscored.
The Hamas official stressed that Netanyahu and his government bear full responsibility for obstructing the agreement and any reckless actions that might derail it, including humanitarian consequences for Israeli captives in Gaza.
He explained that the occupation’s actions are pushing the situation back to square one and threatening to collapse the deal by proposing alternatives such as extending the first phase or creating an intermediary phase.
The only path to securing the release of Israeli captives is by adhering to the agreement and immediately entering negotiations for the second phase while ensuring that "Israel" fulfills its commitments, according to the Palestinian official.
Hamdan also asserted that mediators and guarantors bear full responsibility for preventing Netanyahu from sabotaging the agreement and must work to safeguard its implementation.
Elsewhere, the Hamas official warned that international security and stability are at risk amid the continued US support for the Israeli occupation and the international community’s failure to act against "Israel", which is threatening to resume the genocide against Gaza and intensifying its aggression on the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.
Read more: States, int'l bodies decry Israeli halt of Gaza aid, demand its flow
