Hamas blames Israeli Prime Minister for "buying time", US sends diplomatic "boss" to mediate

On August 18, the Hamas Islamist movement said that the proposal recently put forward by the US contained new demands from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thus hindering the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip

Negotiations to end the Israel-Hamas conflict have yet to produce concrete results. (Source: AFP)

The Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip has continued to blame Israel for failing to reach a ceasefire agreement, after two days of negotiations in Doha (Qatar) on August 15-16 without any significant breakthrough.

Sputnik news agency reported that in a statement, Hamas said that Israel is using a strategy of "buying time" and prolonging the conflict in Gaza when the latest proposals only fit Israel's conditions, notably Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of a permanent ceasefire and any withdrawal from Gaza.

According to Hamas, the proposal reflects the Israeli leader's determination to maintain control over strategic areas of Gaza, including the Philadelphia Corridor.

Haaretz (Israel) quoted a Hamas announcement stating: "Mr. Netanyahu is making new demands to sabotage the negotiations, including continued control of the Philadelphia Corridor, the Rafah Border Gate and the Netzarim Corridor."

The proposal also failed to meet the terms of the prisoner swap and “Mr. Netanyahu bears full responsibility for sabotaging mediation efforts and derailing the deal.”

The Gaza movement called on the mediators to present a concrete plan to implement the proposals previously agreed upon on July 2, stressing the need to avoid a continuous stalling of the negotiations due to Israel's delaying tactics and new conditions.

Hamas also affirmed that it has approached the reconciliation efforts of Qatar and Egypt in a responsible manner, considering all proposals to stop aggression against Palestinians and move towards signing a prisoner exchange agreement.

Hamas also noted that this approach is motivated by the desire to avoid bloodshed among Palestinians and end violence against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, a White House statement, issued by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, described a new proposal that they said would build “on the agreed-upon elements” and seek to close remaining gaps, allowing for “expeditious implementation of the agreement.”

On the same day, August 18, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on his ninth trip to the region since the war in the Gaza Strip last October, to promote a ceasefire agreement.

As planned, on August 19, Secretary of State Blinken will have separate meetings with host country officials - including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and President Isaac Herzog, before leaving for Egypt on August 20.

Before Mr. Blinken's visit, US President Joe Biden commented that a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip was "closer than ever."

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