Hamas says Netanyahu intends to ‘prevent’ a deal after insisting on staying in the Philadelphia corridor

Islamist group says no new proposals are needed and calls for “pressure” on Israeli government

September 5 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to “prevent” a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages after statements in which he insisted that the Israeli Army must remain in the Philadelphia corridor, considering it the only option to achieve its objectives in the war in the Gaza Strip.

“Netanyahu’s decision not to withdraw from the Philadelphia corridor is aimed at preventing an agreement from being reached,” reads a Hamas statement published by the Palestinian daily ‘Filastín’, which is close to the Islamist group.

In this regard, he asserted that no new proposals are needed and that what is really necessary is to “pressure” the Israeli government to comply with what has already been agreed.

The Palestinian organisation also warned of the danger of “falling into the trap of Netanyahu and his tricks”, accusing him of using the negotiations to “prolong the war against the Palestinian people”.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Al Jazeera television that the current proposal aims to free the hostages and then allow Israel to resume fighting.

“The current proposal is to hand over Zionist prisoners and then return to war. The real way to free Zionist prisoners is to stop the war and secure a real exchange deal,” he stressed.