Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sabotaging the Gaza ceasefire agreement, claiming the Israeli government is not engaging in negotiations for the second phase of the deal, set to end on March 1. Although details of the second and third phases of the agreement were understood to be agreed to in principle, they were to be negotiated during the six-week first phase. This phase has seen the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the delivery of aid to the enclave, which has been devastated by months of Israeli bombardment. The second phase, if finalized, would see the release of all remaining Israeli captives and a permanent ceasefire. Basem Naim, a senior member of the Hamas political bureau, stated on Saturday that Hamas remains committed to the agreement and has fulfilled its obligations, but accused Israel of violating the terms of the deal, including the killing of over 100 Palestinians and the delayed delivery of humanitarian aid. Israeli officials have acknowledged the validity of Hamas’s claims, though the Israeli government has officially denied them. The agreement also involves allowing 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents into Gaza, a requirement not yet met, with more than 90% of Gaza’s 2.4 million Palestinians displaced and significant parts of the enclave reduced to rubble. Israel has been responsible for the deaths of over 48,319 Palestinians since its October 7, 2023, military action began, with at least 1,139 people killed and around 240 taken captive in the initial Hamas attack. Netanyahu’s stance on the deal remains uncertain, with indications that he may not be interested in proceeding to phase two, suggesting political reluctance to withdraw forces and end the war on his part. NGOs have raised concerns about the potential breakdown of the ceasefire and its implications for the Israeli captives’ fate, with Hamas showing willingness to relinquish its governance role in Gaza if a unified Palestinian government or alternative is established through consensus.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/22/netanyahu-playing-dirty-games-to-sabotage-gaza-truce-deal-hamas?traffic_source=rss