Hamas offical says US buying Israel time with ceasefire proposals

Osama Hamdan, a member of Hamas’s Political Bureau, claimed that any new ceasefire or prisoner exchange proposal from the U.S. regarding the Gaza Strip is intended to “calm anger in Israeli streets” and “buy time for more killings of the Palestinian people.”

Speaking to Qatar-based Al Jazeera television, Hamdan stated there has been no new information beyond what has been reported in the media and discussed with mediators about U.S. President Joe Biden’s intention to present a new proposal. His comments were shared on Hamas’s Telegram page.

Hamdan accused the U.S. of being a partner to Israel, failing to exert sufficient pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and not taking the necessary steps to ensure Israel adheres to any initiatives. “The U.S. talk of presenting an initiative is an attempt to absorb the anger in Israeli streets and buy Netanyahu more time for further killing of the Palestinian people, as a result of the failure of Israel and the U.S.,” he said.

Hamdan emphasized that the idea of rescuing Israeli prisoners from Gaza under Israeli conditions is impossible. He stated that the prisoners would not return to their families until the attacks stop and Israel fully withdraws from the Gaza Strip.

“There is no need for a new initiative,” Hamdan added. “What is needed is to force Netanyahu to adhere to the terms presented on July 2, which the resistance has approved. This is the way out, not endless negotiations without any horizon.”

Hamdan reiterated Hamas’s rejection of any formula that allows Israel to remain in the Philadelphi Corridor, highlighting that the corridor is part of the agreement on Gaza’s withdrawal, which includes a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and a prisoner exchange.

According to a report published in the Washington Post on September 2, anonymous officials claimed that President Biden’s administration is preparing to make a final “take-it-or-leave-it” ceasefire proposal for Gaza.

Palestinian groups in Gaza have been engaged in indirect negotiations for months, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, aiming to reach an agreement with Israel on a prisoner exchange and ceasefire.

Hamas has previously accused Netanyahu of blocking the agreement by imposing new conditions during negotiations mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar.