The group said it wanted a ceasefire plan in line with the ceasefire proposal made by US President Joe Biden on May 31.
Hamas has asked mediators to present a plan based on previous ceasefire talks instead of seeking a new Gaza ceasefire agreement, days ahead of talks proposed by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.
The group said in a statement on its official Telegram channel that it wants a plan “based on (US President Joe) Biden’s ceasefire proposal on May 31, the framework presented by mediators Qatar and Egypt on May 6, and UN Security Council Resolution 2735.”
The May 6 proposal, previously agreed to by Hamas and rejected by Israel, would secure the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza and an unspecified number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
The Hamas statement on Sunday added that “mediators must force the occupation (Israel) to implement this (May 6 proposal) and not pursue additional negotiations or new proposals that would give the occupation more time to cover up its aggression and continue its mass murder of our people.”
Al Jazeera’s Hamda Salhout, reporting from Amman, Jordan, said Israeli media were interpreting Hamas’ statement as a blanket rejection of ceasefire talks.
“But their (Hamas) statement did not say that. They were simply asking the mediators to put on the table the original proposal they agreed to,” she said.
August 15th meeting
Last week, leaders from the United States, Egypt and Qatar urged Israel and Hamas to meet in Cairo or Doha on August 15 to finalize a ceasefire and prisoner release agreement in Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said Saturday that the group’s leadership was “studying” the ceasefire invitation.
“What is hindering the success of the last proposal is the Israeli occupation,” Taha said, emphasizing that “real pressure must be put on the Israeli side to close the remaining gaps in the ceasefire agreement.” Israel has pursued and is pursuing a policy of hindering the success of all efforts and efforts to end the aggression.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously said he would not agree to any deal to end Israel’s war in Gaza without the complete destruction of Hamas. But Israel said it would send negotiators to a ceasefire conference on August 15.
If the talks go ahead, it would be the first time Hamas has held talks under Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar since Israel assassinated Ismail Haniyeh.
Meanwhile, Israel’s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip continue to rage.
On Saturday, Israel struck the Al-Tabin school complex in the Gaza Strip, home to Palestinian refugee families, killing about 100 people.
“Every time there is any movement in these (ceasefire) negotiations, there is a major attack in Gaza and the whole talks are derailed,” Al Jazeera’s Salhout noted.
Hamas said Israel’s “al-Tabeen school massacre” was “evidence that Israel intends to escalate its aggression.”
However, the group added that despite the attacks, it would continue to adhere to the proposals already agreed to by mediators.
