© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, speaks in a pre-recorded message proven on a display throughout a press occasion for Al Quds Worldwide Establishment in Beirut, Lebanon February 28, 2024. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Picture
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
CAIRO (Reuters) – Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh blamed Israel on Sunday for stalling ceasefire talks and rejecting Hamas’s demand to finish the conflict on Gaza, however stated the group was nonetheless searching for a negotiated answer.
Haniyeh stated Israel hadn’t but given a dedication to finish its army offensive, pull out its forces and permit displaced Palestinians to return to their properties throughout the Gaza Strip.
“We do not need an settlement that does not finish the conflict on Gaza,” stated Haniyeh in a televised speech, sooner or later earlier than the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins.
“The enemy nonetheless refuses to make ensures and clear commitments over the difficulty of ceasefire and stopping the aggressive conflict on our folks,” he added.
Haniyeh stated his group was decided to defend its folks and, on the similar time, search a negotiated answer.
“At this time, if we obtain a transparent place from the mediators, we’re able to proceed with finishing the settlement and to indicate flexibility on the difficulty of prisoner change,” stated Haniyeh.
Hamas precipitated the conflict by killing 1,200 folks and abducting 253 in an assault on Israel on Oct. 7, in accordance with Israeli tallies. In response, Israel launched a floor offensive and aerial bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip which, as of Sunday, had killed at the very least 31,045 Palestinians and wounded 72,654, in accordance with the Hamas-run enclave’s well being ministry.
Hamas is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the USA, the European Union, Britain and others.
Haniyeh stated his group was open to forming a unity authorities with the rival Fatah motion of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and different factions.
He stated steps in the direction of that aim may embrace electing a Palestinian Nationwide Council and forming an interim nationwide consensus authorities with “particular duties” till legislative and presidential elections are held.
Efforts to reconcile the 2 teams and finish divisions that worsened following the 2007 takeover of Gaza by Hamas have failed. Abbas’s authority to rule has since been decreased to the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution.