The member of Hamas Political Bureau Khalil al-Hayyia confirmed that the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire negotiations with the Israeli occupation are still ongoing, calling on Egypt to pressure the occupation to meet the basic demands of the Palestinian people.

In an interview with Al-Aqsa TV Channel, the Hamas leader said that discussions about ceasefire understandings with the Israeli occupation are ongoing.

The understandings are based on serving the beleaguered Palestinians in the costal enclave a decent life including jobs for graduates, free fishing, exporting and importing goods, and above all the necessary water and electricity supplies.

Commenting on a potential ‘prisoner swap’ with the Israeli occupation, al-Hayyia said that the Israeli occupation undermines any possible progress in this regard.  

“The Israeli occupation is just prevaricating and sells illusion for the families of the Israeli soldiers captured in the Gaza Strip”, al-Hayyia added.

Al-Hayyia commented on the latest Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip by confirming that the Israeli occupation broke ceasefire and killed seven Palestinians in a security operation in Khan Younis. Moreover, this point was clear for the mediators who had endeavoured to re-enforce 2014 ceasefire agreement.

“The Palestinian resistance, though, showed restraint and functioned consensually through the Joint Operation Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions”, he added.  

The Hamas leader also made remarks on the Great Return March, as he stated that the mass protests along the Gaza borders would never end, but when the national demands of the peaceful protesters are met, above all lifting the Israeli crippling siege on Gaza.

“The Israeli occupation has deprived the Palestinian people of their basic rights, and now they are demanding restoration of these legitimate rights”, al-Hayyia added.

Regarding the Palestinian reconciliation, he stressed that Hamas is prepared for reconciliation, but based on the agreements that have been signed before, the most important of which is Cairo 2011 that is the ‘constitution of the Palestinian reconciliation’.  

Al-Hayyia also reiterated Hamas’ rejection of all forms of normalization, calling on all free people of the world, especially the Arab and Muslim countries, to renounce normalization with the Israeli occupation.

“Normalization with the Israeli occupation and resettlement of the Palestinian refugees put the Palestinian cause in jeopardy. Normalization is a precursor for resettlement”, al-Hayyia concluded.