The representative of Hamas in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdel Hadi, told the Al-Mayadeen channel in an interview overnight Tuesday that the terrorist organization insists the ceasefire agreement and the return of the hostages include a clear commitment to ending the war completely, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip.
عبد الهادي للميادين: #حماس أبدت مرونةً عالية سهّلت حل كل النقاط العالقة بشأن الاتفاق، وذلك لحرصها على الشعب الفلسطيني، بهدف إنهاء معاناته.https://t.co/cZvlD9KhDP
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) January 6, 2025
Abdel Hadi claimed that Hamas had shown great flexibility, which made it easier to resolve all outstanding points, stressing that to ensure an Israeli withdrawal in accordance with the agreement, Hamas demanded maps detailing the process.
Abdel Hadi confirmed that the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza are more serious than ever before, stressing the need to discuss and resolve all outstanding issues. He stated, “All outstanding issues were discussed and resolved, as Hamas showed great flexibility to stop the aggression and with great responsibility, keen to stop the massacres against our people.”
He added, “Many points were resolved in the past period while maintaining the constants, which are a complete cessation of war, the withdrawal of the occupation, the return of the displaced, and the prisoner exchange deal.”
As to who would run the Gaza Strip on the day after the war, Abdel Hadi said that the agreement stipulates that there would be a “Palestinian” civilian body agreed upon by the residents of Gaza to oversee the management of the Strip and the border crossings, as well as rehabilitation and shelter.
Keeping up the Hamas propaganda and psychological wargames, Abdel Hadi stressed that “the ball is now in the court of the Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Reuters quoted sources saying that Hamas had agreed to the Israeli list of 34 hostages to be released first, but it still insists on a “permanent ceasefire.”
The Prime Minister’s Office on Monday announced that “The list of hostages that has been published in the media was not provided to Israel by Hamas but was originally given by Israel to the mediators in July 2024. As yet, Israel has not received any confirmation or comment from Hamas regarding the status of the hostages appearing on the list.”
Israeli political sources involved in the negotiations are saying Hamas has yet to provide any list or reliable information about the status of the hostages, while at the same time demanding a ceasefire without preconditions – raising many questions on the Israeli side about its true intentions.
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