Recent cease-fire proposals ‘smokescreen,’ don’t include end to war on Gaza: Hamas

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Hamas on Saturday called recently floated cease-fire proposals a “smokescreen” as they do not include an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.

Senior Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq said cease-fire proposals floated in recent days don’t include an end to the Israeli assault, withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of displaced Palestinians to their areas.

“We are positively engaged with any proposals and ideas that ensure the cessation of aggression and the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza,” he added.

Rishq accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using the negotiations as “a cover to continue his aggression.”

“The role-swapping game between the occupation and the US administration is ongoing in Lebanon, just as it is in Gaza,” he said.

Hamas on Tuesday announced that it had responded to mediators’ requests to discuss new proposals regarding a cease-fire in Gaza and to finalize a prisoner swap deal with Israel.

Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar have so far failed to achieve a cease-fire in Gaza, but Washington maintains that Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Oct. 18 may lead to a breakthrough in talks.

Hamas, however, says Israel must stop its war on Gaza, in which it has killed over 43,300 people since October 2023.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.