Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, has dismissed US Secretary of State Blinken’s assertion that Hamas would be accountable if a ceasefire deal fails, saying it’s a tactic to pressure Hamas while shifting blame away from Israel.
“Blinken’s comments contradict reality. It is not strange for Blinken, who is known as the foreign minister of Israel, not America, to make such a statement,” Abu Zuhri told Reuters.
“Even the Israeli negotiating team admitted Netanyahu was the one who was hindering reaching an agreement,” he added.
Abu Zuhri said that the group was still studying the recent ceasefire offer. Hamas is seeking the release of prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Netanyahu says Israel needs to destroy the remaining Hamas formations in Rafah in southern Gaza for its own security, with or without a deal with Hamas.
