Hamas slams Israel for introducing "new conditions" amid ceasefire talks Report by Lebanese media

Hamas has accused Israel of stalling negotiations on a potential ceasefire and the release of hostages by imposing new conditions.

In a statement, Hamas claimed that discussions in Doha, which were mediated by Qatar and Egypt, had made significant strides, with Hamas showing "responsibility and flexibility", Caliber.Az reports via Al Jadeed TV channel.

However, the group argued that Israel introduced new demands that included the withdrawal of troops, a ceasefire, the exchange of prisoners, and the return of displaced persons, which has delayed the implementation of the agreement that was already prepared.

Hamas emphasized that these new conditions were hindering the progress of the talks, which were expected to lead to the release of hostages and a reduction in violence. The group’s statement also underscored that they have been serious about the negotiations and have shown a willingness to cooperate with the mediators.

In response, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office dismissed Hamas' accusations as false, accusing the group of "lying" and reneging on previously agreed-upon terms. Israel further criticized Hamas for continuing to create difficulties in the negotiations. An official statement from Israel’s leadership emphasized that the government remains focused on returning all of its citizens who were abducted by Hamas.

Israeli sources also reported that despite the differences between the two sides, some progress had been made in narrowing the gap. However, Hamas had yet to provide a list of hostages to be released in the first phase of the truce, a key step that was still pending.

On December 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed there was "some progress" in the discussions regarding the Gaza Strip and the potential hostage exchange. But by the following day, Israel had recalled its negotiating team from Doha. The media, citing sources familiar with the talks, suggested that the return of the Israeli team was due to a need to re-assess strategy and discuss the next steps in the ongoing negotiations. Despite the team’s return, sources also reported that contact between the two sides was ongoing.

The crisis in the Middle East began on October 7, 2023, when thousands of armed Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to a full-scale Israeli military response and the declaration of war by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Since then, the conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with widespread calls for peace and a resolution to the ongoing hostilities.

By Tamilla Hasanova