Hamas issues clarification on developments in negotiations file

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) issued a clarification regarding media reports regarding the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted the new US proposal, only for Netanyahu to return hours later and reaffirm his conditions.

Hamas confirmed today, Tuesday, in the clarification that Al Jazeera Net obtained a copy of, its commitment and immediate readiness to implement what it agreed to on July 2, based on the announcement of US President Joe Biden and the resolution of the UN Security Council.

According to the clarification issued by the movement’s political bureau member, Basem Naim, Biden’s declaration on May 31 (which is essentially an Israeli proposal according to his declaration), and Security Council Resolution 2735 of June 11, stipulate the following in the first phase (of 3 phases) of the ceasefire agreement:

• Immediate, complete and total ceasefire.
• Withdrawal of Israeli forces to the border.
• The return of the displaced to their homes in all areas of the Gaza Strip without any conditions.
• Adequate and safe entry of humanitarian aid and temporary housing.
• A serious exchange deal between the two parties.
• Negotiations during the first phase should lead to a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said it welcomed Biden's announcement and the Security Council resolution and submitted its response approving the mediators' proposal on July 2.

But Netanyahu's response to all these projects and proposals - according to the movement's statement - was more massacres and killing (such as the Mawasi massacre, the assassination of the movement's leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and the massacre of the Tab'een School in the Daraj neighborhood in Gaza).

Hamas added that Netanyahu set new conditions for negotiation, including:

• Not to withdraw from the Rafah crossing.
• Not to withdraw from the Philadelphia axis.
• Not to withdraw from the Netzarim axis.
• Searching the displaced people returning to their homes from the south to the north.
• Changing what was agreed upon regarding the prisoner exchange deal, which means emptying the deal of its content.
• Linking humanitarian and reconstruction aid to approval of the above conditions.
• He did not commit to continuing negotiations on the terms of the first phase (a complete and comprehensive ceasefire and withdrawal to the borders) until the terms of the second phase were agreed upon, and he asked the Americans for a written pledge that would enable him to resume the war if he decided to do so.

Hamas said that the US administration and the international community are required to "put an end to this rampage and pressure Netanyahu and his fascist government to stop the aggression and sign a ceasefire agreement."

Earlier today, Hamas said it had followed with "astonishment and disapproval" US President Joe Biden's statements in which he "claimed" that Hamas was backing away from the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Hamas added - in an official statement - that the statements of Biden and his Secretary of State Anthony Blinken are "misleading allegations and do not reflect the truth of our position" which is keen to reach a halt to the aggression on Gaza.

The statement stressed that Biden and Blinken's statements come within the framework of "American bias towards the Israeli occupation and partnership in the aggression and genocide" against the people of Gaza.

Hamas considered these statements as "an American green light for the extremist Zionist government to commit more crimes against civilians."

The American position

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said yesterday, Monday, after holding a discussion session with Netanyahu in occupied Jerusalem for about 3 hours, that the Israeli Prime Minister "accepted the updated American proposal that aims to bring the parties' views closer together," without disclosing the contents of the proposal.

However, Israeli media reported on Tuesday that Netanyahu said:

• We will not accept a proposal that includes ending the war.
• We will not withdraw in any way from the Philadelphi and Netzarim axes despite the enormous pressure.

The United States presented its new proposal to "bridge the gaps" between Hamas and Israel during the negotiations held in the Qatari capital, Doha, last Thursday and Friday.

Channel 12 Israel quoted sources as saying after the Doha talks that the new American proposal:

• Most of Israel's demands are met without resolving the dispute over the Philadelphi and Netzarim axes.
• Determines the number and names of detainees to be released in the first phase.
• It includes the release of Israeli women and female soldiers first, and living detainees.
• It includes the names of Palestinian prisoners who will be released in exchange for every Israeli captive.
• The list of Palestinian prisoners includes the names of 47 prisoners who were released in the deal for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and were recently re-imprisoned.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies