Hamas Denies Stalling Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Rejects Trump’s Accusations
Hamas denies Trump's blame for failed Gaza talks, insists mediators reported no obstacles. While US/Israel accuse Hamas of blocking deal, group claims progress was made on withdrawal maps.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Palestinian movement Hamas on Friday strongly rejected accusations made by U.S. President Donald Trump that it had obstructed the latest round of Gaza ceasefire negotiations held in Qatar, stating that it had not been informed of any impediment in the talks by the official mediators.
Taher al-Nounou, a senior Hamas official, told reporters that the movement was never notified by Qatari or Egyptian mediators of any dispute during the discussions aimed at securing a ceasefire and hostage release deal. He described President Trump’s remarks as both surprising and baseless, particularly in light of the progress made during the latest rounds of indirect negotiations.
Hamas: We Acted Positively, U.S. Remarks “Unjustified”
“Hamas dealt with the mediator efforts with complete positivity,” said al-Nounou, adding that the ongoing Israeli accusations are merely an attempt to “evade the consequences of the negotiations.” He expressed dismay at Trump’s statement, which blamed Hamas–Which is designated as a terrorist organization by U.S, EU, & UK–for the breakdown in talks, asserting that the American position “lacks justification” given the constructive tone of recent discussions.
According to al-Nounou, the negotiations had reached a significant level of convergence, particularly regarding maps detailing Israel’s planned military withdrawal from Gaza, and that no mediator had conveyed the presence of any major disagreement.
Trump and Netanyahu Blame Hamas for Collapse
Earlier on Friday, President Trump declared that the ceasefire deal had failed because “Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal,” adding, “I think they want to die.” He further suggested that Hamas was unwilling to release the remaining hostages, speculating that the group feared what would follow once the last captives were freed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, calling Hamas “the obstacle to a hostage release deal” and stating that the U.S. and Israel were now considering alternative scenarios to end Hamas’s rule and secure the return of hostages.
Hamas Slams U.S. Envoy, Defends Mediation Track
Responding to comments by U.S. envoy Witkoff, Hamas’s political bureau member Bassem Naim accused him of deliberately misrepresenting the context of the negotiations. In an interview with AFP, Naim said that Witkoff’s negative statements “serve the Israeli position” and stand in contrast to the progress achieved during the talks.
Both Qatari and Egyptian mediators, according to Hamas, had continued to show strong commitment to the ceasefire process. Al-Nounou reaffirmed Hamas’s readiness to continue the talks in good faith and reach a comprehensive agreement to end the war in Gaza.
Diplomatic Rift Deepens Over Palestinian Recognition
The breakdown in Gaza ceasefire negotiations comes amid growing international friction surrounding Palestinian statehood. On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly—a move hailed by Hamas as a “positive step” and praised by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Saudi government.
However, President Trump dismissed the French decision as meaningless. “He’s a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight,” Trump said of Macron. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the move as “ill-considered,” claiming it undermines peace efforts and emboldens Hamas.
Israeli officials issued sharp rebukes as well, with Netanyahu calling the recognition a “reward for terror.” Other Israeli ministers warned that the decision could encourage further violence and potentially lead Israel to annex more territory in the occupied West Bank.
