GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi rejected claims by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Palestinian resistance had refused a “comprehensive deal”.
In posts published on his Telegram account, Mardawi stated that “Netanyahu lies as naturally as he breathes” when he alleges that the resistance is unwilling to agree to a deal leading to the release of all Israeli captives.
He added: “Hamas has affirmed its clear position, expressing readiness to conclude a comprehensive agreement that would lead to the release of all Israeli captives, in exchange for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the commencement of reconstruction efforts, and the release of agreed-upon Palestinian prisoners.”
Earlier on Sunday, Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza had not been halted, stressing that work is continuing on the latest proposal to which Hamas has responded.
Qatari and Egyptian mediators had presented a new proposal involving a long-term truce in Gaza, lasting between five and seven years, alongside a prisoner exchange whereby Hamas would release all Israeli captives in return for Israel freeing several Palestinian prisoners.
According to reports in Arab media, the proposal also envisions an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from the devastated territory.
Qatar has played a pivotal role, alongside Egypt and the United States, in brokering the previous temporary ceasefire agreement in November, which included the first prisoner exchange deal. However, negotiations stalled following the Israeli resumption of hostilities.
