Hamas says Trump is pushing for Gaza deal, but Netanyahu is hesitant

A senior Hamas official has said that the resistance movement is open to an agreement with the occupation state about a ceasefire in Gaza, and that although US President-elect Donald Trump is pushing for a deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hesitant.

“An agreement has been at the top of the movement’s priorities to remove the enemy’s justifications for continuing the genocide, starvation and displacement of our people,” said Mahmoud Mardawi on Tuesday, “and allow them to return to their homes, or what remains of them, as well as withdraw the Israeli army and allow reconstruction to begin and let humanitarian aid be delivered.”

Al Jazeera quoted Mardawi as saying that Hamas seeks an “honourable” deal and has not tried to obstruct such an agreement. “The movement studied every offer that was presented and responded accordingly. Mediators were surprised by our negotiators’ flexibility when dealing with proposals.”

The Hamas official noted that the occupation regime is reluctant to pay the price of any deal, such as withdrawal, return of the displaced, humanitarian relief and reconstruction, but these are the “minimum” that are acceptable. “The occupation state’s justifications do not reflect reality. They are subject to the will of the extreme nationalist religious movement, which threatens to topple the government if it agrees a deal.” He voiced the movement’s hope that pressure from Trump and the apparent regional desire will bear fruit.

“Netanyahu is not serious about reaching a deal, but there is now pressure and influence in play, and we await the results of this. We test his intentions and willingness on practical reality, not theory, as his statements do not translate into facts in the end,” claimed Mardawi. “The Israelis, represented by Netanyahu, agreed last January to a deal that the resistance and mediators considered acceptable, but he backed down at the last minute and the situation deteriorated, as noted by Gadi Eisenkot, a member of the [Israeli] War Cabinet at the time.”

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