Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq stated today, Sunday, that no messages regarding ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip have been received by the movement.
Through a statement on Telegram, al-Rishq emphasized the demand for a clear and permanent cessation of aggression throughout the entire Gaza Strip, not limited to Rafah alone. This stance, he explained, is what the Palestinian people expect and should serve as the foundation and starting point for any discussions, according to the Arab World News Agency.
Moreover, al-Rishq accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of killing prisoners and showing no regard for the prisoners or their families. He criticized Netanyahu for his tactics of evasion and giving false impressions of concern, while seemingly buying time to continue the aggression.
On the Israeli side, a senior official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Sunday that a council of war ministers is expected to meet tonight in Jerusalem to discuss an agreement on releasing hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that Israel had officially resumed negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange with Hamas, with delegations from both sides expected to travel to Doha, Qatar in the coming days. The announcement followed a tripartite meeting involving the chief of the Israeli Mossad, David Barnea, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and CIA Director William Burns.
