Netanyahu is ‘still playing games’ on Gaza truce talks: Hamas official

A senior Hamas official says Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “still playing games” on negotiations aimed at hammering out a ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian resistance group and the occupying regime in the Gaza Strip.

Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas official, made the remarks on Saturday, two days after Netanyahu refused to send a delegation to the Egyptian capital Cairo for talks on a potential deal with Hamas.

“The main point of disagreement is Netanyahu and his games,” Hamdan told Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network. “He is trying not to have any arrangements or agreements. That is clear.”

He further noted that Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh had expressed a “positive position” towards the truce discussions and “willingness” to achieve a Gaza ceasefire.

Israel waged a genocidal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

However, more than four months into the offensive, the Tel Aviv regime has failed to achieve its objectives of "destroying Hamas" and finding Israeli captives despite killing 28,858 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 68,667 others.

Israel says 130 captives remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released during a week-long humanitarian ceasefire in late November.

Netanyahu has come under pressure to resign over his handling of the aggression against Gaza and his failure to secure the release of all Israeli captives.

Two captives killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza: Hamas

Hamas has repeatedly said the only way for the resistance movement to release the rest of the Israeli captives was for the regime to stop its aggression on Gaza.

Israelis hold anti-regime protests

Also on Saturday, thousands of Israeli protesters called for Netanyahu’s removal from power, early elections and the release of captives in Tel Aviv, al-Quds, Haifa, Be'er Sheva and Caesarea.

In Tel Aviv, the demonstrators broke through a human barrier of policemen, sparking a confrontation.

At the city’s so-called Hostages Square, multiple speakers cesured Netanyahu’s decision not to send a delegation to Cairo.

They also chanted “shame, shame, shame,” at Netanyahu’s cabinet.

In al-Quds, the rally began outside the residence of Israeli president Isaac Herzog and continued on to Netanyahu’s official residence.

“What right do the prime minister and the war cabinet have to not send a representative to Cairo?" asked Rubi Chen, the father of Itay Chen, an Israeli soldier who is held captive in Gaza.

Ron Besin, who was displaced following Hamas’ October 7 operation, addressed Netanyahu, saying, "As long as you are prime minister, we have no hope, no chance to restore the border communities."

"We're calling from here to dissolve this bad government and go to elections now," Besin added.

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