Rhino: Agencies – The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said in a statement on Thursday that it had told mediators in ceasefire talks that it would not continue negotiating while Israel continues its military operation but was ready to reach a ‘full agreement’ including a comprehensive deal for the exchange of hostages and detainees if Israel stops the war.
Several rounds of talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar aimed at reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have stalled amid mutual accusations that both sides are obstructing attempts to reach an agreement.
The Hamas statement comes as Israel continues its assault on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, despite a ruling by the UN’s International Court of Justice ordering it to halt the offensive.
‘Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy of continuing negotiations in the shadow of aggression, killing, siege, starvation and genocide of our people,’ the statement read.
‘We informed the mediators today of our clear position that if the occupation stops its war and aggression against our people in Gaza, we are ready to reach a full agreement that includes a comprehensive exchange deal,’ the statement added.
Israel has rejected previous proposals from Hamas as inadequate and said it is determined to eliminate the group.Israel says its attack on Rafah is aimed at rescuing hostages and eliminating Hamas militants.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip says more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in Israel’s offensive on the Strip. Israel began the military operation in response to an attack by Hamas-led militants on towns in southern Israel on 7 October, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.