On September 5, 2024, Hamas called on the United States to “exert real pressure” on Israel to reach a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict, which began on October 7 last year. Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s lead negotiator based in Qatar, urged the U.S. to apply pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenge the perceived bias towards Israel.
Netanyahu responded by stating that no ceasefire agreement is imminent, emphasizing Israel’s need to maintain control over the Philadelphi Corridor to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza. Hamas criticized Netanyahu’s stance, accusing him of obstructing a potential agreement and using negotiations to prolong the conflict.
Hamas also argued that a new agreement is unnecessary, as they had already accepted a truce proposed by President Biden. They cautioned against falling into Netanyahu’s “trap,” suggesting that his actions are aimed at extending aggression against the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Qatar, a key mediator, accused Israel of attempting to distort facts and mislead global opinion.
