Haniyeh calls on Arab countries for collective action

Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh stated that Palestinian groups, including his own, have "reiterated to mediators that they will not abandon their demands for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Israel."

Haniyeh spoke at the Arab National Congress held in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, regarding the Tel Aviv administration's proposal to Egyptian and Qatari mediators to renew negotiations on a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire in Gaza.

Stating that Hamas and other Palestinian groups have "reiterated to mediators that they will not abandon their fundamental demands regarding their position on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Israel," Haniyeh said that all their demands—a permanent cessation of attacks, the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, the lifting of the blockade, reconstruction, and the realization of a prisoner exchange—are aimed at achieving the Palestinian people's rights to freedom and independence.

"THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WILL NOT ACCEPT AN ALTERNATIVE TO RESISTANCE"

Addressing those considering the post-war situation in Gaza, Haniyeh pointed out that the Palestinian people will not accept an alternative to resistance. He stated that unity in Palestinian territories would be achieved through the formation of a national unity leadership for all groups, the establishment of a consensus government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the holding of presidential, legislative, and Palestinian National Council elections.

Noting that Israel has failed in its ambitions to displace Palestinians, destroy resistance forces, and seize Gaza, Haniyeh called on Arab countries to take advantage of the Al-Aqsa Flood to engage in collective action to combat Zionism and counter normalization policies.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Mossad Director David Barnea, US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns, and Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met in Paris on May 24 to revitalize prisoner exchange negotiations between the Tel Aviv administration and Hamas.

In a report published on May 28 by the Israeli state television channel KAN, it was reported that the Tel Aviv administration had conveyed its proposal for the resumption of negotiations on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza to Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

In a statement on May 30, Hamas announced that Palestinian groups would not accept negotiations with Israel while the genocide against the Palestinian people continues.

The statement recalled that Hamas had displayed a positive and flexible attitude toward the efforts of mediators in all previous rounds of indirect negotiations, reaching a stage where Hamas approved the mediator countries' proposal on May 6. It was stated that Israel used these negotiations as a cover to continue its attacks and massacres targeting the Palestinian people, and responded to Hamas's positive stance in the negotiations by "launching an attack on Rafah and occupying the border crossing."

It was expressed that Hamas and Palestinian groups "would not accept being part of this policy by continuing negotiations in the shadow of attacks, massacres, blockade, starvation, and genocide against the Palestinian people."

HAMAS HAD APPROVED THE CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL

Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh announced on May 6 that he had informed Qatar and Egypt of his approval of their proposals regarding a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

Following Hamas's announcement that it had approved the "ceasefire proposals" conveyed by Qatar and Egypt, the Israeli War Cabinet decided to continue attacks in Rafah.

The Israeli army launched a ground offensive into eastern Rafah on May 7 and seized control of the Palestinian side of the border crossing with Egypt.

The area occupied by the Israeli army includes the Rafah Border Crossing, which is the main entry point for humanitarian aid into Gaza and the only crossing point used by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to travel abroad.