Since the fighting resumed last Tuesday, at least 634 Palestinians were killed – mostly women and children – and 1,172 wounded [Getty]
Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed on Saturday that negotiations with mediators were ongoing, with efforts focused on securing a ceasefire and halting Israel’s renewed offensive on Gaza, which resumed last Tuesday.
Speaking exclusively to The New Arab‘s Arabic language edition Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, al-Qanou dismissed claims made by US Middle East envoy Steve Wietkoff, who recently accused the Palestinian group of insisting on governing Gaza.
Al-Qanou stressed that Hamas was open to any arrangements for Gaza’s post-war governing.
“We are not interested in being part of Gaza’s administration,” al-Qanou said. “That’s why we agreed to form a social support committee in Gaza that excludes Hamas. We have no ambition to govern Gaza – what matters to us is a national consensus, and we are committed to its outcomes.”
Earlier, Wietkoff described Hamas as an idea that “cannot be eliminated” but argued that the group should have no role in Gaza’s future governance.
He also expressed hope that a ceasefire deal could soon be reached while accusing Hamas of “clinging to power”.
Al-Qanou emphasised that Hamas had shown sufficient flexibility in talks with mediators to reach an agreement.
He blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for obstructing progress, saying Netanyahu was prioritising his political survival over the lives of Israeli captives held in Gaza.
“Netanyahu is putting his government’s survival above the agreement and the lives of Israeli prisoners in Gaza,” al-Qanou said.
Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza on Tuesday before sending troops back into areas evacuated during the pause in fighting.
It came after weeks of disagreement with Hamas over extending the ceasefire that took effect on 19 January.
“The Trump administration should not have acted as a party to the conflict but rather exerted pressure on Israel to return to the ceasefire agreement,” Al-Qanou said.
Despite the renewed fighting, the Palestinian official indicated that Hamas was still open to dialogue with US representatives if it could help end the violence.
Since the fighting resumed last Tuesday, at least 634 Palestinians were killed – mostly women and children – and 1,172 wounded.
