Senior Hamas Official: Netanyahu Is the Main Obstacle to Prisoner Exchange Deal and Ceasefire
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing mehr News Agency and Russia Al-Youm, Ezzat al-Rishq, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, responded to recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump by stating that Hamas agreed on August 18 to a proposal put forward by mediator countries.
He explained that the ceasefire proposal was originally based on a plan developed by Steve Whitaker, the U.S.special envoy for Middle East affairs.
Al-Rishq added that benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has so far given no response to this proposal.
He emphasized Hamas’s readiness for a comprehensive agreement under which all Israeli prisoners would be exchanged for a specified number of Palestinian detainees held in israeli jails. This agreement would also lead to an end to hostilities and withdrawal of occupying forces.
Al-Rishq further described Netanyahu as “the primary obstacle” preventing any prisoner exchange deal or ceasefire. He accused the Israeli Prime Minister of pursuing “an endless war.”
