File Photo: US special envoy Steve Witkoff. AP
In an interview with Fox News, Witkoff accused Hamas of rejecting the opportunity to demilitarize and accept the bridging proposal. "They elected not to. Hamas is the aggressor here. This is on Hamas. The United States stands with the state of Israel."
Israel resumed its war on Gaza on Tuesday, launching an invasion and threatening to annex parts it had withdrawn from during the six-week pause in its 15-month genocidal war on the densely populated strip. This escalation followed weeks of disagreement with Hamas over extending the ceasefire that began on 19 January.
Israel, backed by Washington, attempted to extend the first phase of the agreement, effectively stalling discussions on the second phase, which would involve an Israeli withdrawal and a permanent end to the war.
Hamas firmly rejected such proposals, insisting that the original terms of the agreement— a transition to the second phase, the exchange of remaining detainees, and talks on a permanent ceasefire—must be honoured.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamas condemned the United States for its "distortion of facts," denying claims that the Palestinian resistance group had chosen war with Israel by refusing to release captives.
In a statement, Hamas responded to comments made by US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes on Tuesday. Hughes had said, "Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war."
Hamas added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "rejected these initiatives and deliberately sabotaged them to serve his political interests."
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