Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of not making progress in reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, according to the ruling movement of the Palestinian sector in a statement today, Saturday, on the Telegram app.

Haniyeh added that Hamas "has responded all along with a positive spirit and high responsibility with the brother mediators to stop the aggression against our people, end the unjust siege, and allow the flow of aid, shelter, and reconstruction."

Haniyeh also confirmed that "the movement has shown full flexibility in dealing with these issues, but it is clear so far that the occupation continues to maneuver and procrastinate on the files, which concerns our people, while its position revolves around the release of prisoners held by the resistance."

During the previous ceasefire, Hamas released 40 hostages who were kidnapped during the October 7 attack, in exchange for releasing 120 security prisoners held in Israel due to terrorist crimes, according to Israeli claims.

The movement leader repeatedly confirmed that "the resistance will not accept less than a complete halt to the aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation army from the Gaza Strip, lifting the unjust siege, providing safe and suitable shelter for those displaced due to occupation crimes, the return of displaced persons especially to northern Gaza, putting an end to the brutal starvation policy, and commitment to reconstruction."

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza

While humanitarian aid was entering Gaza, the United Nations confirmed it was facing difficulties in distributing aid, especially in the northern sector, and that Palestinian civilians in Gaza have faced internal displacement.

Haniyeh stressed that "achieving a prisoner exchange deal through which our prisoners, especially the old and those with high sentences, are released is one of the goals of these negotiations, and this cannot be overlooked."

He added, "The movement deals with the ongoing negotiations with a positive spirit and high responsibility, but it will not neglect the great sacrifices of our people and the gains of their brave resistance. We will work by all available means to stop the bloodbath that the enemy carries out around the clock against our defenseless people."

Israeli conditions for a ceasefire

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas’s ceasefire proposal and insisted that anyone would say no to these conditions.

He added: "Surrendering to Hamas’s imaginary demands... will not lead to the release of the hostages. It will only lead to another massacre," referring to the attack that took place on October 7 against southern Israel, where more than 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage.

Netanyahu repeatedly insisted that the ceasefire conditions would be ending Hamas’s control over the Gaza Strip and releasing all hostages, pointing out that Hamas officials publicly declared their intention to repeat the terrorist attack that occurred on October 7.

He stated again that there is no other solution than complete victory. Netanyahu stressed that if Hamas manages to remain in Gaza, it will be only a matter of time before the next massacre occurs.

Netanyahu explained that “the axis of evil represented by Iran and its followers will continue the campaign of killing and aggression without obstacles.”

Netanyahu said: “We are not bound by the crazy terms that Hamas talks about... including the part related to [the release of terrorists] whose 'hands are stained with blood,'” confirming that we "have not committed" to that.

Netanyahu continued his insistence that there is supposed to be “a negotiation process through mediators, but from what I have seen, Hamas is not present.”