The Palestinian group Hamas has dismissed proposals for a temporary ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, calling them a "deceptive" lacking guarantees for meeting Palestinian demands. According to Hamas spokesperson Izzat al-Risheq, these ceasefire offers serve only to mask further escalation by Israeli authorities.
In a statement posted on the movement’s Telegram channel, al-Risheq argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "stalling for time, using negotiations with Hamas as a cover for continued aggression." He suggested that the proposed ceasefire, limited to just a few days, is intended to distract from ongoing Israeli actions, as it does not include a halt to aggression, troop withdrawal from Gaza, or the return of displaced Palestinians.
Al-Risheq emphasized that Hamas remains open to initiatives that ensure these core demands are met. Additionally, he claimed that Israel and the United States are attempting to "exchange roles" in both Lebanon and Gaza, which he characterized as a strategy to maintain control over the situation.
On November 1, the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian news agency Maan reported that the movement had rejected an intermediary's proposal for indirect talks with Israel. The proposed agreement involved a temporary ceasefire and a limited prisoner exchange—Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails—but did not meet Hamas's primary demands.
According to al-Risheq, the presented proposals do not address the critical humanitarian needs of Palestinians, nor do they cover infrastructure restoration or the reopening of key checkpoints, particularly the Rafah crossing with Egypt. He reiterated that Hamas is committed to achieving a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, lifting the blockade, enabling displaced Palestinians to return home, and establishing a comprehensive prisoner exchange agreement.
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Based on TASS materials