Hamas accuses Netanyahu of obstructing Gaza ceasefire agreement

Hamas said the proposal “responds to the conditions set by Netanyahu, especially his rejection of a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.”

The statement added that the Israeli Prime Minister “set new conditions regarding the prisoner exchange and backed down on other points, which prevented the conclusion of the agreement.”

Shortly before that, Netanyahu had denounced the Islamist movement’s “stubborn refusal” to reach a truce, and called for pressure to be returned to Hamas rather than the Israeli government, on the eve of a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday to promote a preliminary agreement.

Hamas renewed in the statement its “commitment to what was agreed upon on July 2, based on the declaration of [Joe] Biden and the Security Council resolution, calling on the mediators to “assume their responsibilities and force the occupation to abide by what was agreed upon.”

The first phase of the US president’s plan calls for a six-week truce, accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas in Gaza and the release of the kidnapped hostages on October 7. The second phase includes a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.