War's continuation means more Israeli captives: Exclusive

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
29 May 2024 00:08
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Hamas senior official Bassem Naim highlights that Hamas' position on negotiations, alongside other factions, relies on the fighters' legendary performance on the battlefield.

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Hamas senior official Bassem Naim (File Photo)

Hamas senior official Bassem Naim affirmed on Tuesday that the continuation of the Israeli aggression "means more Israeli captives in the hands of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip."

In an interview for Al Mayadeen, he responded to comments from Israeli Channel 12 regarding "Israel's" readiness for a long-term ceasefire, saying that "Israeli manipulation of words is unacceptable, as it must be clear from the beginning that a complete ceasefire is demanded."

Naim highlighted that Hamas' position on negotiations, alongside other factions, relies on the fighters' legendary performance on the battlefield.

He also noted the movement's previous acceptance of a proposal that met Palestinian aspirations.

The senior official confirmed that no one has contacted the movement recently, and no new proposals were made, underscoring the movement's unwillingness to engage in new negotiations while "Israel" occupies the Rafah crossing.

"كنا قد وافقنا سابقاً على ورقة قدمها الوسطاء تلبي الحد الأدنى من متطلعات شعبنا ولن نقبل بالموافقة على ورقة جديدة"

القيادي في حركة #حماس باسم نعيم لـ #الميادين #نقاش #فلسطين_المحتلة #غزة pic.twitter.com/HiMYsY3nl4
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 28, 2024

Naim added, "We are not prepared to open the door to discuss any new proposals, as per Benjamin Netanyahu's tactics which he adopted over recent months."

Furthermore, he clarified that the Resistance "will not accept using negotiations as a means to let the enemy buy more time to proceed with its plans against the Palestinian people," emphasizing that the priority for the Resistance is "protecting the Palestinian people from massacres."

Naim pointed out in his exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen that there is "an Israeli attempt to cover up the massacres against our people by claiming that there is a recent movement towards negotiations."

Earlier today, a top Hamas official told Al Mayadeen that the Resistance movement is yet to receive any ceasefire proposals from the ongoing indirect talks with the Israeli occupation.

In the same context, a source in Hamas, speaking to Al Mayadeen, denied the return to the negotiations on Tuesday as claimed by Israeli media.

Earlier, a senior Palestinian Resistance source told Al Mayadeen that the Israeli occupation is not serious in its attempts to return to negotiations, emphasizing Hamas' insistence on stopping Israeli massacres against the people of Gaza.

The senior source emphasized that Hamas "believes that Israel is not serious" about reaching a deal, perceiving "Israel's" maneuvers as attempts to obscure and justify its continued perpetration of criminal acts against the Palestinian people.

This comes after conflicting reports have been handled by Israeli media, whose source appears to all be journalist Barak Ravid., who himself, in a post on X, denied that any negotiations are set for later this week right after announcing their resumption.

Negotiations expected to renew?

CIA Director Bill Burns met with Mossad Chief David Barnea in Washington and upon the latter's return, Israeli i24 News and Barak Ravid both noted that, according to Israeli officials, "Israel", the US, and Qatar have agreed to resume indirect negotiations with Hamas on the release of Israeli settlers and soldiers held captive in the Gaza Strip, the liberation of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, and a potential truce in Gaza.

According to reports, the upcoming round of talks, which the US, "Israel", and Qatar are reportedly ready to hold is set to be mediated by Egypt and Qatar following the Paris Paper put forward by CIA Director Burns, Mossad Chief Barnea, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

On that note, Ravid stressed that the mediation will include the "active involvement of the US."

Ravid, shortly after, posted that the Biden administration was surprised by the Israeli announcement about the resumption of negotiations on a captives deal.

Allegedly, the Israeli occupation's war cabinet has expanded the mandate of the Israeli negotiating team. Initially, it was claimed, that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposed this expansion, but he was swayed by widespread support for the move and the recent release of a video by the Palestinian Resistance movement al-Qassam Brigades.