Hamas Chief Accuses Israel Of Procrastinating In Peace Talks

On Wednesday, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of dithering in stalled talks to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war and a hostage release agreement.

Recent talks have made no progress, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims the Palestinian Hamas group has tightened its stance.

“The Zionist occupation continues to procrastinate stubbornly, and does not respond to our fair demands for an end to the war and aggression”, Haniyeh stated in a recorded speech played at a Hezbollah meeting.

Netanyahu’s office announced Tuesday that Israel’s negotiating team had returned from another round of talks in Cairo.

“In the framework of the talks, under useful Egyptian mediation, the mediators formulated an updated proposal for Hamas”, the PM’s office continued.

However, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim stated on Tuesday that the group had not received any new proposals.

“The movement has not received any proposals from the mediators or the occupation (Israel) regarding a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal”, Naim added.

Haniyeh, Hamas Chief, who lives in Qatar, reaffirmed Hamas’ criteria for peace in an address broadcast on Wednesday ahead of remarks by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

These include a permanent truce, Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced Gazans, unrestricted assistance entrance, comprehensive restoration of the war-ravaged area, and a respectable prisoner exchange deal.

Haniyeh also condemned what he called direct American participation in the Gaza war by sending weapons and ammunition to the Israeli forces.

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