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<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-keen-on-reaching-comprehensive-ceasefire--haniyeh">english.almayadeen.net</a>
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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Hamas keen on reaching comprehensive ceasefire: Haniyeh</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">May 5, 2024<br></div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>The top Hamas official has put out a statement detailing the latest developments on mediated negotiations.</p><img src="cid:ii_lvtpqzm80" alt="d59af028-9d04-4998-bac4-4e69ec692437.jpg" width="408" height="272"><br><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
Hamas' Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh speaks during a
press briefing after his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian in Tehran, Iran, on March 26, 2024. <em>(AP)</em>
</li></div></ul>
<p>An end to the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people is an
"essential and rational" prerequisite to a mediated deal between the
Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli regime, the head of Hamas'
Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, stated on Sunday. </p>
<p>Haniyeh affirmed the Islamic Resistance movement's positive approach
to the current round of negotiations in Cairo. Hamas discussed the issue
with Palestinian factions and mediators, holding "concentrated
meetings" among its leaders in Gaza and elsewhere, before sending its
negotiating <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-delegation-to-head-to-cairo-on-may-4-to-continue-media">delegation to Egypt</a>, Haniyeh added. </p>
<p>The delegation was informed of the movement's "positive and flexible" position on a deal, the top official explained. </p>
<p>However, negotiators were informed on the importance of prioritizing
an end to the aggression on the Palestinian people; an "essential and
rational" stance, Haniyeh added. </p>
<p>He said that an end to the Israeli war on Gaza would lay the groundwork for a more "stable future".</p>
<p>Haniyeh questioned the viability of an agreement <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-hinges-exchange-deal-on-written-ceasefire-clause--isra">if a ceasefire is not its initial result</a>. </p>
<p>"The world has become a hostage to an extremist government, plagued
by a vast array of political problems and crimes committed in Gaza,"
Haniyeh underlined.</p>
<p>"Its leader (Benjamin Netanyahu) seeks to invent permanent
justifications for the continuation of aggression, the expansion of
conflict, and the sabotage of efforts made by mediators and various
parties," he stated.</p>
<p>Haniyeh also criticized the United States government for providing
the needed political cover for the Israeli regime's crimes, saying that
it should be responsible for stopping the war instead of "supplying it
with weapons of destruction and annihilation."</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--refuses-to-adhere-to-permanent-ceasefire--senior-so">'Israel' refuses to adhere to permanent ceasefire: Exclusive</a></strong></p>
<h2>Netanyahu blatantly rejects ceasefire demand</h2>
<p>Haniyeh's remarks came just after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu hardened his rejection of calls for an end to the war on Gaza.
Netanyahu said that allowing Hamas to stay in power would pose a threat
to "Israel".</p>
<p>Netanyahu said that the Israeli regime is only willing to pause its
aggression in order to secure the release of Israeli captives in the
Gaza Strip. </p>
<p>The Israeli war criminal said that Hamas is "entrenched in its
extreme positions," which include an end to the war on Gaza and the
withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the territory. For
Netanyahu, abiding by the rulings of international law, ending the
occupation of internationally recognized Palestinian territories, and
halting genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people are "extreme
positions" that "Israel cannot accept."</p>
<p>On the other hand, Haniyeh stressed that the movement is still "eager
to reach a comprehensive and interconnected agreement, ending the
aggression, guaranteeing the withdrawal (of occupation forces), and
achieving a serious prisoner exchange deal."</p>
<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-media--netanyahu-has-long-become-a-burden-on--israel">Israeli media: Netanyahu has long become a burden on 'Israel'</a></strong></p></div></div></div>
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