Ismail Haniyeh: Hamas Keen On Reaching Comprehensive Ceasefire

An end to the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people is an “essential and rational” prerequisite to a mediated deal between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli regime, the head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, stated on Sunday. 

Haniyeh affirmed the Islamic Resistance movement’s positive approach to the current round of negotiations in Cairo. Hamas discussed the issue with Palestinian factions and mediators, holding “concentrated meetings” among its leaders in Gaza and elsewhere, before sending its negotiating delegation to Egypt, Haniyeh added. 

The delegation was informed of the movement’s “positive and flexible” position on a deal, the top official explained. 

However, negotiators were informed on the importance of prioritizing an end to the aggression on the Palestinian people; an “essential and rational” stance, Haniyeh added. 

He said that an end to the Israeli war on Gaza would lay the groundwork for a more “stable future”.

Haniyeh questioned the viability of an agreement if a ceasefire is not its initial result. 

“The world has become a hostage to an extremist government, plagued by a vast array of political problems and crimes committed in Gaza,” Haniyeh underlined.

“Its leader (Benjamin Netanyahu) seeks to invent permanent justifications for the continuation of aggression, the expansion of conflict, and the sabotage of efforts made by mediators and various parties,” he stated.

Haniyeh also criticized the United States government for providing the needed political cover for the Israeli regime’s crimes, saying that it should be responsible for stopping the war instead of “supplying it with weapons of destruction and annihilation.”

Netanyahu blatantly rejects ceasefire demand

Haniyeh’s remarks came just after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hardened his rejection of calls for an end to the war on Gaza. Netanyahu said that allowing Hamas to stay in power would pose a threat to “Israel”.

Netanyahu said that the Israeli regime is only willing to pause its aggression in order to secure the release of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip. 

On the other hand, Haniyeh stressed that the movement is still “eager to reach a comprehensive and interconnected agreement, ending the aggression, guaranteeing the withdrawal (of occupation forces), and achieving a serious prisoner exchange deal.”

The Israeli war criminal said that Hamas is “entrenched in its extreme positions,” which include an end to the war on Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the territory. For Netanyahu, abiding by the rulings of international law, ending the occupation of internationally recognized Palestinian territories, and halting genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people are “extreme positions” that “Israel cannot accept.”