Hamas on Sunday again accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “obstructing an agreement” for a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage swap.
The Palestinian group said in a statement after the latest round of talks in Qatar that Netanyahu “is fully responsible for thwarting the efforts of the mediators, for obstructing the agreement, and for the lives of the hostages in Gaza.”
After two days of talks between US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Doha, the US presented a new compromise proposal on Friday.
According to Hamas, the proposal is “a response to Netanyahu’s conditions, particularly his rejection of a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and his insistence on the continued occupation of the Netzarim Junction, the Rafah Crossing and the Philadelphia Corridor.”
The latter two locations are considered by Israel to be key to preventing any weapons flow into the Gaza Strip, while the Netzarim Junction lies at a strategic point between northern and southern Gaza.
Hamas said Netanyahu “also introduced new conditions into the prisoner swap file and backed out from other items, which is hindering the completion of the swap deal.”
The Israeli prime minister had earlier denounced the group for being “stubborn” and not sending a delegation to the talks, saying it should be Hamas, not Israel, that should be under pressure.
He was speaking ahead of a visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is leading efforts to broker a deal.
In its statement, Hamas reiterated its support for the proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden in May, which it said was an Israeli plan.
The proposal included a three-phase settlement, beginning with a six-week ceasefire on 7 October, as well as the release of hostages and Israeli withdrawal from densely populated parts of Gaza.
Hamas officials have on several occasions accused Netanyahu of obstructing the agreement.
According to Israeli official figures, the war began as a result of an attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October that killed 1,198 people, mostly civilians.
Hamas has taken 251 people hostage, 111 of whom are still held in Gaza, 39 of whom the Israeli military says are dead.
At least 40,099 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to data from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. However, it does not give details of civilian and Hamas casualties.
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