“Hamas” renews the demand for the withdrawal of Israel from the southern Gaza Strip

The Hamas movement renewed its demand for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the southern Gaza Strip, accusing the Hebrew state of trying to circumvent the terms of the ceasefire agreement in force between the two parties, which is currently taking place in Doha to start the second stage of it.

“The meetings between Hamas and the mediators continue in Doha with the aim of pushing towards the start of the second stage,” the movement’s spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, told AFP.

He added that “Hamas” “adheres to what has been agreed upon and immediately entering the implementation of the second stage, and applying its benefits to pledge not to return to the war and withdraw from the entire Gaza Strip.”

Qasim stressed that “reports on submitting new proposals aimed at jumping on the Gaza agreement,” stressing the movement’s adherence to “Israel implementing its pledges to withdraw from Gaza, and to withdraw from the Philadelphia axis”, the buffer zone along the border strip between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, which was supposed to withdraw from the Israeli forces during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

A spokesman for “Hamas” pointed out that the Israeli army “has not committed to implementing the humanitarian protocol from the ceasefire agreement, as the occupation still prevents the introduction of humanitarian, relief, food, medicine, fuel, tents and mobile homes.”

Qasim stressed that “Hamas does not want to return to the war again,” but he warned that “if the occupation resumes its aggression, we only have the defense of our people.”

Since the second of March, Israel prevents the entry of aid convoys to the Gaza Strip in an attempt to pressure Hamas.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement on March 1 without reaching an agreement on the following steps is supposed to end the war that erupted after an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Hamas wants to start immediately with the negotiations of the second stage of the agreement, but Israel is seeking to extend the first stage.

Israeli media reported on Thursday that the Hebrew state offered to extend the ceasefire for 50 days, in exchange for Hamas released a portion of the living hostages and the 58 dead who are still detained in Gaza.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described these reports as “false”.