June 13, 2024 Israel-Hamas war

In a new statement, Hamas said it “has shown the necessary positivity in all stages of negotiations” in order to reach a “comprehensive and acceptable agreement based on the just demands of our people.”

Hamas said those demands include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, the “return of the displaced, reconstruction, and the conclusion of a serious deal for the exchange of prisoners.”

Hamas said while it has “expressed its positive position” to what was included in US President Joe Biden’s speech on May 31, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has “continued to confirm their commitment to the genocide war, attacking the proposal put forth by President Biden” that is in contradiction to the claim that Israel has agreed to what was in the Biden speech.

Hamas said while US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “continues to talk about Israel’s agreement to the latest proposal, we have not heard any Israeli official speak about this agreement.”

Hamas called on Blinken and the Biden administration to put pressure on the Israeli government that Hamas said “is determined to complete its mission,” and which Hamas says is “in flagrant violation of all international laws and treaties.”

In the statement, Hamas also said it rejects statements by Blinken that attempt to absolve Israel “of its crimes against innocent children, women, and elderly.”

Hamas said this is in line with American policy that is complicit in the brutal war “against our Palestinian people, allowing the occupation to continue its crimes under full American political and military cover.”

Earlier Wednesday, Blinken questioned whether Hamas is “proceeding in good faith” amid the ceasefire negotiations, saying Hamas had proposed a number of changes in their response to the latest deal, which “go beyond positions they had previously taken.”