GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Hamas Movement has reaffirmed its keenness to continue negotiations and engage in them in a manner that helps overcome obstacles and leads to a permanent ceasefire agreement.
In a statement on Friday, Hamas expressed its “surprise” over US envoy Steve Witkoff’s remarks, stressing that its engagement in the diplomatic process was aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
“The Movement has acted with a sense of national responsibility and flexibility throughout the negotiations,” Hamas said, noting that it submitted its response to the mediators after consulting with Palestinian factions and regional partners.
Hamas said that the mediators expressed “satisfaction with its constructive and positive position over the ceasefire proposal, which opens the door to reaching a comprehensive agreement.”
Hamas asserted that it dealt positively with the comments and proposals it received from the mediators, including those from Egypt, Qatar and the US administration, adding that it remains open to further negotiations and committed to working within the established mediation framework.
Witkoff said Thursday that the United States will seek “alternative options” for a ceasefire in Gaza and the US negotiating team is returning home from Qatar for consultations upon Hamas’ latest response.”
“We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza,” he wrote on the social platform X.
For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement said the response that was submitted by Hamas and other resistance factions to the Qatari and Egyptian mediators was welcomed by the mediators, who considered it a “gateway to reaching an agreement to halt the aggression and end the suffering of our people.”
“US envoy Steve Witkoff’s remarks have reflected the (Israeli) occupation government’s position and revealed premeditated intents to perpetuate the aggression and undermine the mediators’ efforts,” Islamic Jihad said in a statement on Friday.
The Movement affirmed its commitment to supporting the mediators’ efforts and achieving an agreement that serves the interests of the Palestinian people and puts an end to Israel’s crimes against them.
