The Zionist regime has thwarted the Doha negotiations regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the efforts of mediators, said Ghazi Hamad, a member of the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, adding that none of the disputed issues have been settled during the talks.
In an interview with Al Mayadeen on Friday, Hamad made it clear that no agreement can be reached without a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, the return of displaced people, and the completion of a prisoner exchange deal.
He affirmed that Hamas’ stance is strong and unwavering and enjoys the full backing of Palestinian factions, adding, “We will no longer engage in futile negotiations.”
The Hamas official accused occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deception, adding that he has not provided clear answers to the key questions needed to reach an agreement.
According to Hamad, Netanyahu is laying out new conditions and undermining previously agreed-upon terms with the aim of prolonging the war on Gaza.
He also recalled that the Zionist premier has been unequivocal in stating that he has no intention to stop the war.
Resistance will not allow Zionist presence in any part of Gaza
Touching on the proposed agreement, the Palestinian official said it contains no ambiguity, yet the Zionist side has been stalling in providing a response to what was presented on the table.
He noted that the regime introduced new conditions related to the key Philadelphi Route, despite previously agreeing to a full withdrawal from it.
Hamad underlined that “the Resistance will not allow, under any circumstances, the presence of occupation forces in any part of Gaza,” denying reports by The Wall Street Journal that the regime is ready to withdraw from the Philadelphi Route.
The Hamas official further explained that the Zionist entity is seeking to leave a loophole in the agreement, which enables it to continue its war later on, stressing that it is essential for mediators to pressure the occupying regime to honor the previous agreements.
Popular Front argues the statement from commission is a cover for Zionist duplicity
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine released a statement which we publish below in full:
“The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine affirms that the contents of the trilateral Qatari-American-Egyptian statement, and its announcement of completing its work by the end of the week, is a cover for the continuation of obstruction and delay by the zionist occupation, which means the continuation of massacres and forced displacement as a means of pressuring our people. The occupation is trying to buy time to undermine the agreement entirely.
– The Front demands that the mediators seriously work to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire, as their role depends on their ability to oblige the occupying state to halt military operations during the negotiation process, so that the negotiations do not become extra time and a cover for the criminal Netanyahu to continue his war of genocide against our people.
– The Front affirms that the United States still supports the occupation’s obstinacy and insistence on continuing the genocide, and that it seeks from these negotiations only to protect the occupation and its interests, providing full cover for the zionist war criminals’ government, which will lead to igniting the region.
– All evidence indicates that the zionist delegation, under instructions from the war criminal Netanyahu, deliberately placed obstacles in the way of reaching an agreement. The talk about ‘gaps’ between the two sides is nothing but a zionist insistence on obstructing a solution, despite mediators confirming that the framework of the agreement is based on Biden’s proposal, which the resistance agreed to, and even the occupation initially expressed agreement, only to later backtrack on it.
– What is being referred to as ‘gaps’ are merely conditions imposed by Netanyahu outside the framework of the agreement, such as the continuation of the occupation of the Gaza Strip, its siege, and the continuation of genocide under different names, which our people and resistance cannot accept.
– The negotiations do not include a commitment to what was agreed upon on July 2, 2024, and negotiating in this manner only serves the interests of the occupation and its American partner. The only way to prove the seriousness of this negotiation path is to start implementing what has already been agreed upon, ensuring a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced persons, and an urgent plan for reconstruction and relief.
– The Front affirms that any meeting that does not include mechanisms for implementing the previous agreement and the basic principles it is based on, and does not impose on the occupation the commitment to halt its war, is merely a waste of time and gives the occupation more cover and time to continue its crimes against our people.
– The Front affirms that our people are not obligated to negotiate with the occupation to stop the war of genocide, for it is the responsibility of the international community to stop the occupation’s crimes and punish war criminals. However, the resistance decided to negotiate to protect our people and alleviate their suffering, and if negotiations become a cover for the continuation of crimes, they must stop immediately.
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Central Media Department
August 16, 2024″
Negotiations path separate from Hezbollah, Iran’s response
Regarding Hezbollah and Iran’s response to the assassinations of commander Fouad Shokor in Beirut’s Southern Suburb and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hamad asserted that both sides have every right to retaliate against the Zionist crimes, stressing, however, that this path is separate from the ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
He said that Washington is convinced that Netanyahu is an obstacle to reaching an agreement and must hold him accountable if the war in the region further escalates.
On Hezbollah’s role in supporting the Resistance in Gaza, the Palestinian official hailed the Lebanese group for over 10 months of fighting and for offering martyrs, adding that the occupation “only understands the language of force.”
Elsewhere, Hamas called on Arab nations to break their silence and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, emphasizing that the ongoing Israeli violations are unprecedented.
US buying time to prepare defenses for Resistance’s response: Al-Dali
In a related context, the expert on Palestinian Resistance Hani al-Dali said on Friday that Hamas’ decision not to participate in the “absurd” ceasefire talks that took place this week in Doha was right.
Al-Dali pointed out that there is no genuine clause confirming that the negotiations were real, adding that the formulas used during the talks indicate an intent to waste time.
“It is clear that Netanyahu has rejected all mediator proposals for an agreement,” he indicated, adding that postponing the meetings to next week gives the Zionist occupation more time to commit crimes and conduct genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
The expert considered that what is happening in the negotiations is an attempt to delay the expected response of the Axis of Resistance to the assassination of its commanders.
He explained that it has become apparent that the US and the occupying regime are engaged in a role distribution system, where Washington provides cover for Netanyahu, his demands in the negotiations, as well as his attempts to hinder the talks.
Al-Dali said that Washington is trying to create a complex military and political reality in anticipation of the Axis of Resistance’s awaited response to the assassinations.
He added that the United States is trying to buy time to prepare the strongest possible defenses against the anticipated response.
Elsewhere, the expert described the US support for the occupation entity as “a recipe for a regional war.”
Earlier, the US, Qatar, and Egypt announced that senior officials from their governments will reconvene in Cairo before the end of next week with an aim to conclude a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and the occupying regime.
In a trilateral statement, the three nations confirmed that over the last 48 hours in Doha, senior American, Qatari, and Egyptian officials engaged in intensive talks as mediators aiming to conclude an agreement.
It is noteworthy that Hamas did not take part in the Doha talks and insists that the mediators compel the occupation entity to comply with the ceasefire agreement the movement approved on July 2 instead of engaging in new rounds of negotiations.
A senior Palestinian Resistance official said that the Doha negotiations did not yield any developments as the regime is clinging to its positions.
Moreover, a senior Hamas source also pointed out that what the movement’s leadership was informed of Friday regarding the results of the Doha ceasefire meetings does not include a commitment to what was agreed upon on July 2.
Commenting on the talks, officials told AFP that Hamas will not accept “new conditions” from the regime in the proposal put forward during the talks in Doha.
An informed source highlighted that as part of the Zionist obstruction maneuver, the regime introduced “new” conditions, which include keeping troops inside Gaza along its border with Egypt, while Hamas, according to the source, demands “a complete ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Strip, a normal return of the displaced and a (prisoner) exchange deal” without restrictions.
The occupation also demanded veto rights on the prisoners and detainees to be exchanged, as well as the ability to deport some of them rather than send them back to Gaza, the source said.
Later, Netanyahu called on the three mediators to “pressure” Hamas to accept a deal.
The occupation “hopes that their pressure will lead Hamas to accept the May 27 principles, in order for the details of the agreement to be implemented,” a statement from his office said, referring to the three-phase plan submitted to US President Joe Biden.