Hamas has denied President Joe Biden’s assertion that the group is “backing away” from a ceasefire-for-hostage agreement, insisting that the US is siding with Israel in the crucial negotiations. In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas expressed surprise at Biden’s comments, stating that they do not reflect the group’s actual position, which is focused on achieving a cessation of aggression.
The response from Hamas highlighted the challenges in securing a deal to end the conflict in Gaza. Biden’s top diplomat, Antony Blinken, had announced on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported a compromise proposal, known as a bridging text, to address key points of contention.
Sources familiar with the ongoing talks revealed that the discussions have centred around Israel’s presence in the Philadelphi corridor between Egypt and Gaza, a major sticking point in the negotiations. While Biden mentioned on Monday that a potential deal remains possible, he noted that he had been informed that Hamas was now “backing off.”
Hamas countered this claim, accusing the US of bias towards Israel. The US had recently introduced a bridging proposal based on a three-stage ceasefire plan originally outlined by Biden in May, which called for Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Gaza’s populated areas.
