Watan-Head of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh confirmed, following his meeting with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad on Monday, that the most important thing for the resistance is to stop the war of starvation in Gaza and not to link this issue to any other.
Haniyeh discussed with the Emir of Qatar efforts to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the situation in the Palestinian territories inside his office at Lusail Palace in the capital, Doha, according to a statement from the Qatari Diwan.
Haniyeh said, “Israel is procrastinating in the negotiation process to stop the war on Gaza, which the movement will not accept under any circumstances, and time will not be open to it.”
سمو الأمير المفدى يستقبل الدكتور إسماعيل هنية رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة المقاومة الإسلامية في فلسطين (حماس)، وذلك بمكتبه في قصر لوسيل. https://t.co/JhCZ1ziedp
— الديوان الأميري (@AmiriDiwan) February 26, 2024
Efforts of Mediators to Stop the Gaza War
The head of the Hamas Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, explained in statements that “the resistance responded to the efforts of the mediators and agreed to the negotiation process to stop the aggression, but it sees that the enemy is procrastinating, which it will not accept under any circumstances.”
He added that “Hamas has shown seriousness and high flexibility during the negotiations,” stressing “the necessity of stopping the massacres committed by Israel against children, women, and innocent civilians.”
Media reports said that Haniyeh extensively explained “the criminal war of starvation carried out by the Israeli occupation in Gaza, and the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from it, especially in the city of Gaza and the northern Gaza Strip.”
Haniyeh pointed out that the Israeli occupation is exploiting the suffering to deprive the Palestinian people of achieving their aspirations for freedom and liberation from occupation and siege.
🟡🇶🇦🇵🇸🔵 سمو الأمير يستقبل الدكتور إسماعيل هنية رئيس المكتب السياسي لحركة المقاومة الإسلامية في فلسطين (حماس)، وذلك بمكتبه في قصر لوسيل
🔷 جرى خلال المقابلة، استعراض آخر التطورات في قطاع غزة والأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة، ومناقشة جهود دولة قطر الهادفة للتوصل لاتفاق وقف فوري ودائم… pic.twitter.com/iT1CLVfKHd
— نبراس قطر (@nebrasqanews) February 26, 2024
Stopping the War of Starvation in Gaza
He also indicated that stopping the war of starvation is of the highest priority and should not be linked to any other issues, emphasizing that they will not allow Israel to use negotiations as a cover for this crime.
The Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” reported that an Israeli delegation arrived in Qatar on Monday to discuss with mediators the details of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in the devastating war.
The Israeli delegation consists of representatives from the Mossad intelligence agency and the army and will arrive in Qatar on Monday, although Hamas has not yet given a response to the new broad outlines of the deal agreed upon at the Paris summit.
A ceasefire was previously held between Hamas and Israel for a week until December 1, 2023, during which there was a cessation of hostilities, exchange of prisoners, and very limited humanitarian aid was allowed into Gaza, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States