Hamas says it is ready for a ‘complete agreement’ if Israel stops war in Gaza
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Palestinians eating food cooked by a charity kitchen near houses destroyed in the Israeli military offensive, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 30.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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CAIRO – Hamas said on May 30 that it had told mediators it would not take part in more negotiations during ongoing aggression but was ready for a “complete agreement”, including an exchange of hostages and prisoners, if Israel stopped the war.
Talks, mediated by among others Egypt and Qatar, to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist movement in the Gaza war have repeatedly stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress.
The latest Hamas statement came as Israel pressed on with an offensive halt the attacks.
In north Gaza’s Jabalia area, after more than two weeks of fierce fighting, the Israeli military said troops had completed their operation and withdrawn to prepare for other operations in Gaza.
“Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy by continuing (ceasefire) negotiations in light of the aggression, siege, starvation and genocide of our people,” the Hamas statement read.
“Today, we informed the mediators of our clear position that if the occupation stops its war and aggression against our people in Gaza, our readiness (is) to reach a complete agreement that includes a comprehensive exchange deal,” it added.
Israel has rejected past Hamas offers as insufficient and said it is determined to wipe out a group bent on its destruction.
It says its Rafah offensive is focused on rescuing hostages and rooting out Hamas fighters.
Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive across all of Gaza, the enclave’s Health Ministry says.
Israel launched the operation after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities
