Hamas to continue fighting if ceasefire talks falter, official says
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Hamas representative in Lebanon Ahmad Abdul Hadi underlines that the Resistance showed flexibility in the talks and stresses that they would continue fighting if the talks falter.
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Hamas representative in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdel Hadi (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
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 on Thursday.
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.
#WATCH | Hamas movement representative in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdel Hadi, to Al Mayadeen:
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 4, 2024
"We did not submit a paper or respond. Rather, we showed flexibility as we sought to formulate fixed terms."
"Flexibility today is in form, not content, and basic issues were not discussed.” https://t.co/whSgnqgqIw
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.
"Netanyahu does not want a ceasefire, and the American administration has not been serious and is under scrutiny today," Abdul Hadi said. "Anyone observing Netanyahu's statements can notice the contradictions, which confirms that Netanyahu is not serious about reaching an agreement."
Possible breakthrough in ceasefire talks
The Mossad announced that mediators Qatar and Egypt have conveyed Hamas' updated response to the proposed hostage and ceasefire deal to the Israeli negotiation team, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported Wednesday adding that "Israel" was currently examining the response and would provide its answer to the mediators soon.
A senior Israeli official stated that the response from Hamas was constructive and could potentially pave the way for detailed negotiations on the remaining issues, Ravid added.
According to the Israeli journalist citing the official, although there has been important progress, significant challenges remain. He further noted that any detailed negotiations would be tough and lengthy, potentially taking several weeks to reach an agreement.
The Israeli negotiation team is expected to hold discussions over the next few days with Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant to formulate a policy regarding Hamas' response and said the policy might see the Israelis heading to Qatar or Egypt to enter more detailed discussions.
The Israeli official highlighted that Hamas' updated response addresses key issues central to the dispute and the lack of a deal thus far.
Despite the progress, the official, according to Ravid, cautioned that there is still a substantial way to go before a final agreement can be reached.
Moreover, Ravid underlined that in the second phase of the deal, outlined and agreed to by Netanyahu and backed by US President Joe Biden, the Israeli occupation forces will be withdrawing from Gaza entirely, including from the Philadelphi axis.
Biden admin revising ceasefire deal
The Biden administration has recently proposed revised language for parts of the potential ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas, according to sources cited in an Axios report.
The report claimed that Hamas had previously rejected the US proposal for a ceasefire. However, it has been repeatedly shown that Netanyahu has no interest in pursuing such a deal, instead opting to achieve his "war objectives" while he suggested a "partial" agreement last week.
The Biden administration's revised proposal, originally based on an Israeli plan approved by "Israel's" war cabinet and endorsed by US President Joe Biden, seeks to maintain its three-phase approach.
Recently, Netanyahu suggested shifting toward a "partial deal" with Hamas, hoping to free some Israeli captives held in the Strip while continuing Tel Aviv's genocidal war.
According to the Axios report, the current focus of US efforts pertains to Article 8 of the ceasefire proposal, which pertains to negotiations between "Israel" and Hamas during the first stage of the deal, which set the conditions for the subsequent stage, including achieving sustainable calm in Gaza.
Hamas wants these negotiations to concentrate on the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives, while "Israel" seeks to address broader issues, such as the demilitarization of Gaza.
US officials have drafted new language for Article 8 to reconcile these differing priorities, and are encouraging Qatar and Egypt to persuade Hamas to accept the revised terms.
