Basem Naim says Israel must release 620 Palestinian prisoners as planned to continue the ceasefire talks.
Hamas officials accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “deliberately obstructing” the Gaza ceasefire contract after Israel postponed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Monday, Basmem Naim said Hamas will not engage in further ceasefire talks until Hamas releases 620 Palestinian prisoners intended to be released on Saturday. .
“Before we go to the next step, we need to make sure that the previous steps that had released 620 prisoners have already been released,” said Naim, a member of Hamas Politburo.
“Netanyahu clearly sends a strong message that he is deliberately blocking the deal, so he is preparing an atmosphere for him to return to war.”
Israel announced on Sunday that it had decided to delay the release of Palestinian prisoners, which are scheduled to be released a day earlier in exchange for six Israeli prisoners held in Gaza.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said the move was “humiliating our hostages” and “cynical exploitation of hostages for propaganda purposes” and Hamas held. He said he had agreed to the ceremony.
Israel and Hamas have conducted a series of prisoner exchanges since the ceasefire contract came into effect in the Gaza Strip last month.
Mediators have urged both sides to continue negotiations to reach the second phase of the agreement, but observers question whether Netanyahu is willing to move on to that next phase .
Melon Rapoport, editor of Israeli news outlet local call, told Al Jazeera on Monday that Netanyahu intends to resume Israeli war with Gaza, but is likely to face strong opposition from the Israeli people. He spoke.
“Expectations from hostage families [who remain in Gaza] That means all hostages should be released,” Rapoport said.
Hamas is scheduled to release the bodies of four Israeli prisoners later this week as part of the ceasefire agreement.
Asked about that, Naim told Al Jazeera, “All options are on the table,” as in the future of the deal itself.
“What is that [Netanyahu] Could the other four bodies be taken and the 620 Palestinians again be released, and the agreed upon Palestinians and 620 Palestinians? asked the Hamas official.
“All options are on the table not only what should happen on Thursday, but even other elements of the deal.”
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