Hamas said on Thursday that it had informed mediators that it would not participate in further negotiations during the ongoing Israeli offensive, but that it was ready for a “complete agreement”, including an exchange of hostages and prisoners, if Israel stop the war.
Talks, mediated by, among others, Egypt and Qatar to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist group in the Gaza war, have repeatedly stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress.
Hamas' latest statement came as Israel continued an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's top court, to stop the attacks.
“Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept being part of this policy by continuing the (ceasefire) negotiations in light of the aggression, siege, famine and genocide of our people,” read the Hamas statement.
“Today, we inform the mediators of our clear position that if the occupation stops its war and aggression against our people in Gaza, our readiness (is) to reach a complete agreement that includes comprehensive exchanges,” he added.
Israel has rejected previous offers from Hamas as insufficient and said it is determined to eliminate a group bent on its destruction. The Israeli government says its offensive in Rafah focuses on rescuing hostages and eradicating Hamas fighters.
Almost 36,000 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza, says the local Ministry of Health.
Israel launched the operation after Hamas-led militants attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli records.
Source: CNN Brasil
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