Hamas responds to Doha proposal, says Netanyahu ‘obstructing’ ceasefire deal

Hamas has squarely blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the failure to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, following two days of talks in Doha that concluded on Friday, in which the Palestinian resistance movement did not participate

Hamas gave its official response in a statement on Sunday after reviewing the outcomes of the negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt as well as the United States.

Hamas called on the mediators to present a concrete plan to implement the proposals agreed upon on July 2, emphasizing the need to avoid a continuous cycle of stalled negotiations due to Netanyahu’s delaying tactics and new conditions.

The resistance movement accused Netanyahu of employing a strategy to buy time and prolong the aggression in Gaza.

“We became certain that Netanyahu is still putting obstacles in the way of reaching an agreement,” Hamas said in its statement.

The group emphasized that the latest proposal presented during the talks aligns with Netanyahu’s conditions, which notably include his rejection of a permanent ceasefire and any withdrawal from Gaza.

The resistance movement highlighted that the proposal also reflects Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining control over strategic areas of Gaza, including the Netzarim Junction, the Rafah Crossing, and the Philadelphi Corridor.

Furthermore, Hamas criticized the new conditions that Netanyahu imposed on the prisoner exchange negotiations.

“We hold Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the mediators’ efforts and obstructing the path to an agreement,” it reiterated.