Top Palestinian Resistance source dubs Israeli deal offer 'ridiculous'
3 Min Read
Israeli media report that the deal stipulates providing Hamas' politburo chief Yahya Sinwar and other movement leaders "safe passage" to exit Gaza.
-
Families and supporters of Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza organize a demonstration outside the Israeli Ministry of Security in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on December 15, 2024. (AFP)
Hamas has not received any new offer or proposal regarding a ceasefire deal in Gaza, neither from the American side nor from the Egyptian and Qatari mediators, a senior official in the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen on Thursday.
The remarks came in response to a new Israeli proposal submitted to the United States, which "stipulates the release of all captives at once," in exchange for "Israel" granting what was claimed to be a "safe passage" for the exit of the head of Hamas' political bureau, Yahya Sinwar, and other senior movement officials from Gaza.
The senior official slammed the proposal regarding the exit of leader Yahya Sinwar as "ridiculous" and said it "ignores all the efforts made by the mediators throughout eight months of negotiations."
"The Israeli proposal indicates a state of confusion, negotiations bankruptcy, and insistence on continuing the war," the official told Al Mayadeen. "[The Israeli proposal] means completely closing the door on negotiations."
Read more: Blinken in Cairo to discuss Gaza ceasefire, 'Israel' not on trip plan
Israeli media pointed out that the Israeli proposal, while it discusses the release of Palestinian detainees, primarily seeks to "disarm Gaza, implement a new governance mechanism in the Strip [without the Resistance presence], and end the war." It noted that the Israeli proposal has been dubbed the Safe Passage Deal.
A source within the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen on Wednesday that a new US proposal will be presented to mediators in the upcoming days, under the title of "Bridging the Gaps".
According to the source, the proposal "succumbs to the deception practiced by the head of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, represents a surrender to his will, and aims to obstruct the establishment of an agreement at any cost."
Read more: 'Israel' kills 40 Palestinians in 24hrs in Gaza Strip
It was further revealed that the proposal does not include a permanent ceasefire, nor a comprehensive withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, and leaves the matters of crossings, relief, shelter, and the return of the displaced subject to Israeli approval.
Thereby, the source stressed that the US administration, through its proposal, continues to serve Netanyahu's agenda and reduce internal and external pressures exerted on him.
'Back to square one'
Last week, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said that unless pressure is imposed on Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adhere to the agreed terms regarding the prisoner exchange deal, the Israeli captives will not see the light of day.
Al-Rishq indicated on Monday that "everyone knows that Netanyahu and his Nazi government are the sides obstructing the agreement."
He emphasized that the Palestinian Resistance's demands are clear and non-negotiable: a permanent cessation of Israeli aggression on Gaza and a complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Strip.
The Hamas official warned against considering Netanyahu's new conditions as a basis for negotiation, as this would take the prisoner exchange and ceasefire talks back to square one.
