Hamas says ‘bewildered’ by Witkoff’s remarks on ceasefire talks
The Palestinian group has responded to the US special envoy’s allegations that it lacked the will to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement.
In a statement shared on Telegram, Hamas said it made “a sincere commitment to the success of the mediators’ efforts” to reach a deal. Hamas also said the mediators welcomed its “constructive and positive” position.
“The movement affirms its commitment to completing the negotiations and engaging in them in a way that contributes to overcoming obstacles and reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement.”
US Muslim group condemns Trump negotiators for leaving ceasefire talks
The decision to leave Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar gives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “cover to continue starving, bombing and ethnically cleansing everyone in Gaza”, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says.
“Steve Witkoff knows that Netanyahu and his cabinet of openly racist, genocidal fascists do not want to permanently stop the genocide in Gaza, even if carrying on means leaving more hostages to die in Israel’s indiscriminate bombing campaign or to starve to death alongside the Palestinian people,” CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in a statement.
“Yet whenever push comes to shove in recent negotiations, Mr Witkoff has parroted the Israeli government’s line and given Netanyahu cover to continue the genocide.”
As we’ve been reporting, Witkoff announced earlier that US negotiators were heading home from the Qatari capital, Doha, after Hamas presented its response to the latest ceasefire proposal. The US special envoy blamed the Palestinian group for the failure to reach a deal.
But CAIR’s Mitchell said Washington – which provides Israel with at least $3.8bn in military aid annually – should be exerting pressure on Israel to end its war on Gaza.
“Until the Israeli government’s enablers in the United States, Europe and the Arab world use their military, economic, diplomatic and financial influence to force a ceasefire on the Netanyahu government, no one should expect its genocide to stop,” he said.
