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The head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Ismail Haniyeh, held the Israeli occupation responsible for not reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, despite the movement’s great positivity and flexibility.

Haniyeh stressed - in a speech in which he touched on the details of Hamas’ position on the ceasefire negotiations and developments in Gaza - that the occupation is evading the logical entitlement to the issue of prisoner exchange, and said that the occupation wants to remain in the axis of martyrs and cut the Gaza Strip in two.

Despite this, Haniyeh stressed Hamas's openness to reaching an agreement that achieves the movement's principles, and added, explaining, "If we receive a clear position to stop the aggression and return the displaced, we will show flexibility regarding the issue of prisoners."

He stressed that Hamas showed positivity and responsibility in the course of the negotiations, and adhered to a comprehensive agreement in 3 stages linked to international guarantees.

He revealed that Hamas had set three controls since the beginning of the negotiating process in order to reach an agreement, which he said included a ceasefire and blocking all suspicious plans targeting Gaza.

He stressed that the movement showed high responsibility, positivity, and wide flexibility in the negotiation process under the auspices of Qatar and Egypt, revealing that he had communicated with the mediators - even hours before delivering the speech - and had not received a commitment from the Israeli occupation to stop the war on Gaza.

Haniyeh added, "The enemy did not make any commitment to the return of the displaced to the areas from which they left," indicating that the occupation is content with talking about the gradual return of the displaced to their areas without clarifying what that means.

Haniyeh warned that the occupation did not recover any of its prisoners "and will not recover them without an agreement, despite all the massacres it is committing in Gaza," stressing that it failed in all its plans in Gaza, "and our people are stuck in their land despite the thousands of martyrs, wounded, and missing people."

He pointed out that the Israeli aggression "will not succeed in achieving its goals in Gaza in light of the legendary steadfastness of the people of the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people."

The head of the Political Bureau pointed out that Hamas has moved during the past months on the field front led by the resistance factions, and the second is the political front.

Politically, the head of the Political Bureau said that Hamas is following up on the arrangements for the internal Palestinian situation, and stressed that “Hamas is more concerned than ever with the unity of our people and rebuilding its components.”

He continued, "We presented a political approach to ending the Zionist occupation in the West Bank and Gaza and establishing the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," adding, "We want to arrange matters through an agreement to form a government that agrees with specific tasks and for a temporary period until elections are held."

Haniyeh praised the steadfastness of the Gazans, and said, "Peace be upon Gaza, which paints the picture of freedom and honor for Palestine." He also saluted all the resistance fronts that support the battle of the Palestinian people and support the resistance, threatening the Israeli occupier that he will be held accountable, no matter how long or short the time takes.

He stressed that October 7 was a historic turning point in the life of the Palestinian issue and a strategic shift in the conflict with the Israeli occupier, adding that this battle constituted a profound and important change at the regional and international levels.

Last Thursday, Hamas said that its delegation left Cairo - Thursday - to consult with the movement’s leadership, while negotiations and efforts continued to stop the aggression, return the displaced, and bring relief aid to the Palestinian people.

Reuters quoted Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri as saying that Israel had "thwarted" all mediators' efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, indicating that it rejected Hamas's demands to "stop the aggression, withdraw, and guarantee the freedom of aid entry and the return of the displaced."

Source: Al Jazeera