ALBAWABA - Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas political leader, said that Israel changed the lists of prisoners to be exchanged and delayed the start of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, even though it had promised to uphold it in front of international mediators. He said that Israel is "even lying to the Americans who saw the deal."
Hamad told Al Jazeera from Cairo that Hamas hopes the upcoming Sharm El-Sheikh summit will help make sure that the agreement is fully carried out as written. He said that Israel's actions were part of its "habit of breaking promises and disrespecting agreements." He called for a strong Arab and international response to what he called the "Zionist madness" against Palestinians.
Hamad said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's threats to start the war in Gaza again show how important it is for the international and Arab communities to respond strongly to stop more violence and make sure Israel follows the ceasefire.
He called for binding international guarantees to make sure that hostilities come to an end for good, that Israeli troops leave completely, and that Palestinians can get their rightful rights to freedom, independence, and statehood.
Disagreement Over Prisoner Swap
Hamad said that changing the lists of prisoners was one of the biggest problems with carrying out the deal. He said that Israel has tried to take off the list of names that were already approved for release, which goes against agreements made with mediators.
He said, "The occupation doesn't keep its promises, not just to Hamas but also to mediators, including the Americans."
Working together with the Red Cross and mediators
The Hamas official stressed that the group is working closely with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to make sure that the agreement is carried out exactly as planned, including the prisoner exchange, troop withdrawals, and a complete end to violence.
He said that there were violations by Israel in the early days of the ceasefire, such as sporadic gunfire and problems with the prisoner file. This showed how important it is for the international community to keep an eye on things to make sure they are being followed.
Hamad said that Hamas has done everything it needs to do to get ready for the prisoner exchange and is still in touch with mediators and the ICRC to make sure it goes smoothly, even though Israel is taking its time.
He said that Hamas works through a joint coordination room with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. This room checks on the situation every day and decides how to respond to any Israeli violations.
Concentrate on peace and stability
Hamad said it was too early to talk about the next step in the agreement. He stressed that Hamas's main goals right now are to strengthen the ceasefire, make sure Israel fully withdraws, and let humanitarian aid in without any problems.
He also said that Hamas would later look at the next steps, such as how to run Gaza and whether or not to get involved with the international community, in consultation with other Palestinian groups. This shows that the movement is still committed to a unified national approach.
Testing Israel's Loyalty
Hamad said that the first part of the deal is still in its early stages and that Israel is still threatening to start fighting again. He said that the next few days will be very important for testing Israel's sincerity in keeping the terms, such as keeping the ceasefire, pulling out troops, and letting displaced people go home.
Hamad said, "Hamas is keeping a close eye on all developments with mediators and will take the right steps to fix any violations." We want to stop the violence and reach a full agreement that will keep our people safe and give them their rights.
