Hamas calls for starting second phase negotiations and rejects Israeli occupation procrastination

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) stressed on Thursday the need to immediately start negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, and held Israel responsible for any delay.

Hamas's media advisor Taher al-Nunu confirmed the movement's rejection of any procrastination by the Israeli occupation. He said: "The negotiations for the second phase of the agreement have not started yet," stressing the need to start them immediately, and holding the occupation responsible for any delay.

He stressed - during an interview with Al Jazeera - Hamas's commitment to its pledges in the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners according to the timetables, noting that the movement spoke clearly with the mediators about the necessity of the occupation's commitment to its obligations.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced last Monday that it would postpone the release of Israeli prisoners until the occupation adheres to the humanitarian protocol according to the terms of the agreement, while US President Donald Trump threatened Hamas with "hell" if it did not release the Israeli prisoners by noon next Saturday.

Earlier, sources reported the success of contacts to proceed with implementing the terms of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, adding that the mediators confirmed the parties' commitment to implementing all terms of the agreement, including the humanitarian protocol.

Al-Nunu noted that the role of mediators is to remove obstacles to the agreement, revealing at the same time the existence of committees in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to follow up on the implementation of the agreement in all its aspects.

He stressed that the humanitarian aspect is linked to the issue of prisoners and the ceasefire, adding, "We are concerned with the ceasefire agreement, and we want the occupation to fulfill its obligations without any reduction."

Earlier today, Hamas said it held talks with mediators to discuss the implementation of the agreement and the exchange of prisoners, especially after the occupation's violations, noting that its delegation held a meeting in Cairo with the head of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, Hassan Rashad, and held telephone talks with the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

The meetings and contacts between the Hamas delegation and the negotiation file officials in Egypt and Qatar and the mediators’ technical working teams focused on implementing the terms of the agreement, especially those related to securing housing for the residents and bringing in prefabricated houses, tents, heavy equipment, medical supplies, and fuel, and continuing the flow of relief urgently.

On January 19, a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect. It includes three stages, each lasting 42 days. During the first, prisoners will be exchanged and humanitarian aid will be brought in, while negotiations will begin to start the second and third, with the mediation of Egypt and Qatar and the support of the United States.

Israel intends to release nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners, including 290 sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,687 with varying sentences, as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, in exchange for the release of 33 Israeli prisoners held in the Gaza Strip.

So far, ceremonies have been held to hand over 5 batches of Israeli prisoners in different areas of the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in the occupation prisons.

(Al Jazeera Net)