Hamas Accuses Netanyahu of Sabotaging Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
A Hamas official has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately undermining the Gaza ceasefire deal by delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, stated that Hamas would not resume ceasefire negotiations until Israel fulfills its commitment to free 620 Palestinian prisoners, which were originally scheduled for release on Saturday.
Naim emphasized that before moving forward, it was crucial for Israel to ensure that the agreed-upon prisoners had been released. He accused Netanyahu of intentionally sabotaging the agreement and creating conditions to return to war.
The delay in the release of prisoners, which had been planned as part of a deal in exchange for six Israeli hostages held in Gaza, was announced by Israel on Sunday. Netanyahu’s office justified the postponement by criticizing Hamas for using the release of captives as propaganda and humiliating Israeli hostages during ceremonies.
While both sides had engaged in a series of prisoner exchanges as part of the ceasefire, observers are questioning whether Netanyahu is committed to advancing to the next phase of the deal. Meron Rapoport, an Israeli journalist, suggested that Netanyahu might intend to resume hostilities but would face significant public resistance, particularly from families of the hostages.
Hamas is expected to release the bodies of four Israeli captives later this week as part of the ceasefire terms. However, Naim expressed concerns over the future of the agreement, stating that all options remained open, including the possibility that Netanyahu might delay or refuse further releases.
