“US buying time for Israel to continue genocide in Gaza,” says Hamas

Hamas has accused the United States of buying time for Israel to continue genocide in Gaza Strip, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly backtracked from his position and refused to agree to a ceasefire.

Recent talks held in Doha last week, facilitated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, ended without progress towards ending the ten-months military offensive in Gaza. 

Despite several rounds of negotiations, Tel Aviv has continued to intensify its assault, diminishing prospects for a peace agreement.

In July, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran by Israeli forces further complicated the situation. Experts suggested that it undermined any remaining chances for a ceasefire.

Hamas representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, told Al Jazeera that while their group accepted a ceasefire proposal from the US administration, President Biden was unable to persuade Netanyahu.

Following Israel’s refusal, mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar proposed a new plan, which Hamas rejected, insisting that only the previous ceasefire proposal was acceptable.

Hamas emphasised five key requirements for any agreement, a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of armed forces from Gaza and reconstruction efforts.

On the other hand, Israel demanded that there be no withdrawal of its forces, inspections for Palestinians returning to their land, changes in the prisoner exchange deal, and that humanitarian aid and reconstruction cannot proceed until these conditions are met.

The White House announced that a new round of talks will be held in Cairo with senior officials before the end of the week.