A senior official from Hamas’ political bureau denied Tuesday that any progress has been made in ceasefire negotiations with the Israeli government regarding Gaza.
Speaking to Al Manassa on condition of anonymity, the official rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that there had been a breakthrough in talks over a prisoner exchange deal. He described Netanyahu’s statement as “a deceptive maneuver aimed at targeting resistance leaders, as seen in the assassination of senior Al-Qassam Brigades commander Mohammed Al-Sinwar.”
During a press conference Monday, Netanyahu said he perceived an opening that could advance negotiations with Hamas on the release of captives. This followed a statement he made some days earlier, announcing he had instructed negotiators to move forward with talks “after seeing an opportunity to do so.”
“Netanyahu is lying. There is no real movement in the negotiations, either from our side or from the mediators, especially after the war he ignited with Iran with US approval,” the Hamas official said on Tuesday,
The official warned that Netanyahu’s statements were a ploy to open communication channels between Hamas leaders in Gaza and those abroad, and then carry out assassinations.
On June 8, the Israeli occupation military announced it had recovered Al-Sinwar’s body, weeks after claiming to have killed him in an airstrike near Gaza European Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip in mid-May.
At the time, a Hamas source told Al Manassa that contact with Al-Sinwar had been lost. The source said the occupation army located him after intercepting communications related to the decision to release Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander.
“This is not just about Hamas leaders,” the official added. “This time, the targets may include leaders from other factions who are our partners on the ground.”
Hamas continues to hold 53 captives in Gaza, according to the Israeli military, which claims 20 are still alive. Four of them are American-Israeli dual nationals.
On March 18, Israel resumed its military offensive on Gaza, reigniting its war that began on Oct. 7, 2023. The assault resumed after Israel refused to continue a ceasefire agreement that had taken effect on Jan. 19 and was supposed to conclude with a full prisoner exchange and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
