Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of intentionally delaying negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, claiming he is stalling agreements for personal political gain.
“The statements of the head of Shin Bet [Ronen Bar, recently dismissed by Netanyahu] confirm that Netanyahu is manipulating the talks, aiming to prolong them and derail any agreement for his own political ambitions,” Hamas said in a statement on its Telegram channel. The group argued that the Israeli leader has always been the main obstacle to a hostage-prisoner exchange deal.
Hamas also insisted that the US should stop blaming the group for the failure of negotiations and instead hold Netanyahu accountable for obstructing talks, which, in their view, exacerbates the suffering of Israeli hostages and their families.
The group reiterated its stance that the only way to secure the release of hostages is through “an end to aggression in Gaza, the resumption of negotiations, and the implementation of agreements without political maneuvering.”
On March 18, the Israeli military launched heavy strikes on Gaza. Netanyahu’s office defended the operation, attributing it to Hamas’s rejection of proposals put forward by mediators and US Special Envoy Steve Wittoff. Israel maintains that its military actions are aimed at securing the release of all hostages. Hamas, in turn, blamed both Israel and the US for reigniting the violence.
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Based on TASS materials