DaysofPal- Hamas has rejected the conditions set by the Israeli occupation authorities for entering the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, calling them “unreasonable” and holding Israel responsible for the breakdown of negotiations.
In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem reaffirmed the group’s commitment to fully implementing all clauses of the agreement at every stage. However, he accused Israel of attempting to stall progress and evade its obligations.
“There are currently no negotiations with Hamas regarding the second phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement,” Qassem said.
“The occupation is attempting to reset the situation to square one, evading its commitment to end the war and withdraw completely from Gaza. It seeks to recover its prisoners while leaving open the possibility of resuming aggression against the devastated Palestinian sector.”
Hamas urged mediators, guarantors, and the international community to pressure Israel into adhering to the agreement and immediately proceeding to the second phase without delay or evasion.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, ended on Saturday. The agreement, structured in three phases of 42 days each, includes the exchange of prisoners, humanitarian relief efforts, and ultimately, the cessation of hostilities. The war, now lasting 15 months, has resulted in over 160,000 Palestinian casualties and destruction on a scale not seen since World War II.
During the first phase, Palestinian resistance groups released 33 Israeli prisoners, 25 alive and eight deceased, in multiple batches. In exchange, Israel freed approximately 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds serving life sentences.
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