Gaza – Saba:
Senior Hamas official Dr. Ghazi Hamad confirmed on Saturday that the movement had engaged seriously in efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
In an interview with Al Araby TV, Hamad, a member of the Hamas negotiating team, described the U.S. position as “puzzling” and “offering no explanations,” adding that Hamas had submitted a “realistic and objective vision that brings the parties closer to an agreement.”
He emphasized that Hamas had fought a “fierce and dangerous battle through negotiations, no less critical than the one on the battlefield.”
“The Israeli enemy sought in negotiations what it failed to achieve militarily,” he stated.
Hamad revealed that during the talks, Hamas successfully blocked Israel from imposing its own withdrawal maps.
“We were faced with two options—either a quick agreement that gives Israel full control, or a good agreement. We chose the latter,” he said.
He stressed that Hamas had never been an obstacle to a ceasefire deal. “Every time we got closer to an agreement, the Israeli side would stall and escalate its military aggression.”
Hamad added that Hamas had managed to improve many of the conditions Israel tried to force during the negotiations.
One of the key goals, according to Hamad, was to secure the release of the largest possible number of Palestinian prisoners in any potential agreement. He affirmed that Hamas had shown flexibility and a positive approach throughout, in a way that protects the rights of the Palestinian people.
“We are working toward a deal that will lead to a cessation of hostilities and an Israeli withdrawal after a 60-day truce,” he said.
Hamad called for Arab and international action to pressure Israel into halting its crimes in Gaza.
He also noted that discussions with mediators are ongoing, and there is genuine interest from various parties to prevent the talks from collapsing.
“No one wants these negotiations to fall apart. We have exercised patience and restraint to reach a solid agreement that meets the aspirations of our people, and we’ve made progress on several key issues,” he said.
Hamad noted that Hamas has maintained constant consultation and coordination with other Palestinian factions to present a unified national stance that protects the rights of Gaza’s residents.
He warned that Israel aims to “erase Gaza from the political map and dismantle the Palestinian factions,” asserting that “this is absolutely unacceptable, and we will not allow the exclusion of any Palestinian party from the equation.”
In a message to the people of Gaza, Hamad said, “We fully understand the pain, suffering, destruction, and hardship that our people are enduring. We know there’s immense pressure to rush into an agreement, but we have worked with dedication and persistence to reach a deal that honors Gaza’s people and fulfills their aspirations—to end the war, bring in aid, and lay the groundwork for a dignified life.”
Over the past 21 months, multiple rounds of indirect negotiations have taken place between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt. Two partial agreements were reached during this time: the first in November 2023, and the second in January 2025.
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