Hamas: Netanyahu Derailing All Mediated Deals, Seeks Endless War in Gaza
Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq says movement accepted mediated proposal in August; accuses Israeli PM of sabotaging all agreements for political survival
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq on Thursday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being the “real obstacle” to all proposed prisoner swap and ceasefire agreements in Gaza, claiming he “wants a war with no end.”
Al-Rishq’s remarks came in response to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, in which Trump urged Hamas to “immediately” release 20 living Israeli captives.
In a statement on Hamas’s Telegram channel, al-Rishq said: “We tell President Trump that Hamas agreed on August 18 to the mediators’ proposal,” noting that the plan was originally based on the so-called Weitzkopf proposal.
He stressed that while Hamas had shown readiness for a comprehensive deal to release all Israeli captives in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, ensuring an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Netanyahu had yet to respond to the offer.
Thousands of Palestinian Prisoners Endure Harsh Conditions
According to Israeli authorities, there are 48 Israeli captives in Gaza, including 20 confirmed alive. In contrast, Israel holds approximately 11,100 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom face torture, starvation, and medical neglect, with numerous deaths reported by Palestinian and Israeli rights groups.
Al-Rishq reiterated that Netanyahu is the primary obstacle to both prisoner exchange and ceasefire arrangements, adding that the Israeli leader’s political motives are driving the conflict.
Opposition parties and families of Israeli captives have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war to preserve his position, fearing the collapse of his coalition if its most hardline factions withdraw.
Netanyahu is currently on trial for corruption charges that could lead to imprisonment if convicted. He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza.
War’s Devastating Toll in Gaza
Since October 7, 2023, with U.S. backing, Israel has waged a campaign in Gaza that Palestinian authorities and rights organizations describe as genocide — involving mass killings, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement.
This campaign has defied all international appeals and ignored International Court of Justice orders to halt the assault.
According to official figures, the war has killed 63,746 Palestinians, injured 161,245, left more than 9,000 missing, and displaced hundreds of thousands. A famine has claimed the lives of at least 367 people, including 131 children. (PW)
Source: Palinfo