Hamas: Ceasefire Must Involve Complete ‘Israeli’ Withdrawal from Gaza

By Staff, Agencies

The Islamic resistance movement Hamas stressed that any agreement with “Israel” must ensure a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, the complete withdrawal of “Israeli’ forces and a prisoner exchange deal.

The Palestinian resistance group said in a statement on Thursday that the agreement should also facilitate the return of the displaced Palestinians and the reconstruction of the devastated territory.

“Hamas views the ongoing negotiations in Doha regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange from a strategic perspective aimed at ending the aggression on Gaza,” Hamas official Hossam Badran said in the statement.

He further added: “Hamas believes that any negotiations must be based on a clear plan to implement what was previously agreed upon. The obstacle to reaching a ceasefire in Gaza is the continued 'Israeli' evasion. “

“Any agreement must achieve a comprehensive ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, [and] the return of the displaced, along with a prisoner exchange deal,” he said.

The Hamas statement emphasized that any negotiation must be based on a clear plan to implement the existing agreement, which was agreed upon in early July. The agreement was also upheld by the UN Security Council.

The statement comes as a new round of truce talks is underway in Doha, in which Hamas has opted not to participate.

Instead, the group has urged mediators to enforce the UN-backed truce agreement rather than holding more talks on a new one.

Hamas has, time and again, expressed readiness to implement a ceasefire deal, but says “Israel’s” continued massacres in Gaza prove the entity is not serious about a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas official Ahmad Abdul Hadi said on Wednesday that it “would not take part in new talks” with the "Israeli" entity on a ceasefire in Gaza.

In addition to Hadi, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri also told Reuters on the same day, “Hamas is committed to the proposal presented to it on July 2,” which is based on the UN Security Council resolution and the Biden speech and the movement is prepared to begin discussion over a mechanism to implement it immediately.

“Going to new negotiation allows the occupation to impose new conditions and employ the maze of negotiation to conduct more massacres,” Zuhri said.