Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad confirmed that the movement and allied factions in Gaza have finalized all logistical arrangements for the release of Israeli captives, but accused Israel of deliberately stalling and altering agreed-upon prisoner lists.
“We have completed the necessary preparations to hand over the captives,” Hamad said. “But the occupation continues to procrastinate and manipulate the lists. We are informing the mediators moment by moment of every development so they can determine who is responsible for any breach.”
Hamad, a member of Hamas’s negotiating delegation, emphasized that the group is working with mediators to implement the agreement in full.
He called for strict international oversight of Israel’s conduct and urged Arab states to apply pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he accused of escalating violence in both Gaza and the West Bank.
“The occupation is evading its commitments—even with American mediators,” Hamad added. “We need to consult with the factions to adopt a unified position regarding the remaining phases of the agreement.”
He reiterated Hamas’s broader demands: a complete end to the war, full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, a comprehensive prisoner exchange, and the entry of humanitarian aid.
“The coming hours will reveal the extent of the occupation’s commitment to the agreement,” he said, “and we will determine our responses accordingly.”
Hamad’s remarks come amid mounting frustration among mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, over Israel’s delays and alleged violations of the ceasefire framework. The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts intensifying to salvage the agreement and prevent further escalation.
