Hamas slams Blinken’s claims, reaffirms ‘Israel’ blocking negotiations

Hamas denounced US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent remarks that held the Resistance movement accountable for obstructing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. 

In a statement, Hamas affirmed that Blinken’s claims were far from the truth and contradicted the reality of the movement’s flexible attitude during indirect negotiations. 

Hamas also reiterated its non-negotiable demands, which are the need for the permanent halt of all military operations in Gaza, the withdrawal of all Israeli occupation forces, the return of displaced Palestinians, the flow of humanitarian aid, and the reconstruction of the Srip, and affirmed that they have not changed since March and have been welcomed by mediators. 

It noted that its flexibility has been met with consistent stalling and obstruction by Benjamin Netanyahu and his government as they try to drag the war further. 

This comes after the US Foreign Ministry claimed that Hamas changed its demands in indirect negotiations leading to a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire. 

On Sunday, in an exclusive interview with Al Mayadeen, Taher el-Nounou, the media advisor to the head of Hamas Politburo, underscored that the Israeli occupation’s refusal to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire and the issue of displaced Palestinians remains a significant obstacle to reaching an agreement.

According to the senior media advisor, the Israeli government’s reluctance to engage in serious ceasefire negotiations indicates a lack of commitment to putting an end to the war in Gaza.

He asserted that the recent war inflicted heavy losses on Gaza’s infrastructure and civilian population, with the Israeli occupation failing to achieve its purported goals.