DaysofPal- Hamas has called on the United States to pressure Israel into fully adhering to the terms of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The Palestinian group asserted that it has fulfilled its obligations under the agreement’s initial phase, while Israel has failed to proceed with the subsequent stages, particularly regarding humanitarian aid and the release of captives.
“The US administration is required to pressure the occupation to enter negotiations for the second phase, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated.
On Thursday, Hamas denounced threats made by US President Donald Trump, who demanded the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza. The group argued that such statements complicate ceasefire negotiations and embolden Israel to retract its commitments under the deal.
“These threats complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and encourage the occupation government (Israel) to refrain from implementing its terms,” Qassem said.
He reiterated that the agreement, mediated in part by Washington, outlines a three-stage process for the release of Israeli prisoners. While Hamas claims to have adhered to its obligations in the first phase, it accuses Israel of stalling on entering the next stage.
US Engages in Direct Talks with Hamas
The United States has started direct talks with Hamas as the ceasefire talks are in shambles. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed these talks, citing ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis while safeguarding American lives.
“These are ongoing talks and discussions; I’m not going to detail them here; there are American lives at stake,” Leavitt said on Wednesday.
Senior Hamas official Taher an-Nunu described the meeting between Hamas and the US as an “important step toward promoting stability in the region.”
He expressed optimism that a shift in US political discourse could pave the way for a broader agreement.
Nunu also referenced the recent Arab summit, highlighting key points that could serve as the foundation for countering the displacement crisis. He stressed the need to reorganize the Palestinian political structure based on national partnerships and elections. A meeting is set to take place soon in Cairo to discuss the Arab summit’s proposed roadmap.
During recent meetings in Cairo, Hamas reportedly agreed to an Egyptian proposal to establish a temporary support committee to manage Gaza’s affairs until a consensus government is formed and elections are held. However, the group firmly rejected the deployment of non-Palestinian forces in Gaza.
Relatedly, an official from Hamas told the news organization Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the discussions with US President Donald Trump’s envoy in Qatar were “exploratory.”
According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Hamas official said that the direct talks with US envoy Adam Buehler took place shortly after Trump talked recently about the release of American-Israeli detainees as a goodwill gesture from the Hamas Movement.
The Hamas official also asserted that the Trump administration was looking for Israeli soldiers who had been taken from military installations, not civilians.
He added that during the talks with the US envoy, the Movement tabled a comprehensive deal that would lead to an end to the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza.
In the meantime, Steve Witkoff, the US envoy for the Middle East, has urged Israel to uphold the ceasefire agreement until he visits the region. His trip has been postponed multiple times but is expected to take place next week, according to reports from Israel’s Yediot Ahronot.
“Witkoff stressed that Israel must maintain the ceasefire in Gaza until he arrives in the region, even if Hamas refuses to release the hostages,” the report stated.
While Israel has expressed its preference for extending the first phase of the agreement until mid-April, Hamas is adamant about moving forward to the next stage, which it believes should lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.
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