Latest news with #Al-Hayya
Arab News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Palestinian official says Hamas leader's speech ‘offends' Egypt, Jordan
LONDON: Rawhi Fattuh, the chairman of the Palestinian National Council, criticized the speech by Hamas' top leader in exile, Khalil Al-Hayya, as reflecting the internal crisis and political confusion faced by the armed group. Fattuh said that Al-Hayya's claims during a televised speech on Sunday against Egypt and Jordan are an attempt to export the group's internal crisis to regional countries. 'The attacks on Egypt and Jordan demonstrate the political confusion that Hamas is experiencing,' he said, according to Wafa news agency. He added that the speech reflects a desperate attempt to shift blame away from Hamas' 'failed policies and uncalculated adventures' that have worsened the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Al-Hayya questioned Egypt's role in stopping the mass starvation caused by the Israeli regime in Gaza, stating: 'Are your brothers in Gaza dying of hunger while they are at your border, so close to you?' Al-Hayya also urged Jordanians to continue their 'popular uprising' to stop the Israeli atrocities in Gaza. This prompted a response from Amman stating that 'the Jordanian people act independently and are not influenced by external directives or Palestinian factions.' Fattuh said on Tuesday that Egypt and Jordan have been steadfast in their support for Palestinians in Gaza and against the Israeli displacement plans. 'It would have been more important under Hamas leadership to recognize this honorable role and appreciate the sacrifices, rather than to offend them with hostile statements that do not reflect the Palestinian national interest,' he said. He held Hamas responsible for leaving almost 2 million Palestinians in Gaza as victims of Israeli atrocities, the monopoly of merchants, and deteriorating living conditions. 'These statements benefit the (Israeli) occupation,' he said, asserting that Palestinians refuse to engage in 'imaginary battles' and stand with their Arab brethren. Neither Hamas nor Islamic Jihad is part of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and both groups have long rejected calls to join what Palestinians consider their sole political representative since the 1960s. The armed group has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 following clashes with the Palestinian Authority forces, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 700 Palestinians, according to an official tally. Since then, it has engaged in several conflicts with Israel, the most recent being the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, which resulted in the deaths and abduction of several hundred people and prompted an ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed over 60,000 Palestinians.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Hamas accuses Israel of stalling ceasefire talks
Shafaq News - Gaza On Sunday, Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya accused Israel of delaying ceasefire negotiations while intensifying its military offensive in Gaza, warning that the enclave faces a worsening humanitarian crisis and efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians. In a televised address, al-Hayya highlighted Hamas's 'maximum flexibility' during 22 months of indirect talks, noting the group participated in every round initiated by mediators. Despite this engagement, he pointed out that Israel abruptly withdrew from the latest round with US backing. 'We engaged in tough negotiations without compromising our people's core principles,' he stated. 'We were surprised by the occupation's withdrawal and the American envoy's alignment with them.' Al-Hayya added that the recent discussions had achieved significant progress, with Hamas closely aligning with proposals from regional mediators. stressing that Israel's departure as a move to buy time and escalate military pressure on civilians. 'There is no justification for continuing negotiations while our people are being starved, bombed, and besieged,' he noted. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate amid the stalled talks. Six Palestinians, including two children, died from starvation in the past 24 hours, raising the hunger-related death toll to 133, including 87 children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Al-Hayya described the situation as critical, with families enduring heavy casualties, widespread disease, and a blockade severely restricting access to food, water, and medicine. He also warned of a developing strategy to expel Palestinians from Gaza — either into Egypt or by sea — framing it as an attempt to undermine the Palestinian cause. Urging stronger regional action, al-Hayya called on Arab and Muslim nations to sever all ties with Israel and mobilize mass protests, boycotts, and marches toward borders, particularly in countries neighboring Palestine. 'Gaza is calling on the Arab honor and Islamic conscience — it needs action, not words,' he stressed. He further acknowledged ongoing support, including military backing from Yemen, international protests, and convoys attempting to break the blockade by land and sea.
Roya News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
"Israel' quit talks to prolong war, says Hamas official
Hamas senior official Khalil Al-Hayya accused the Israeli Occupation of deliberately withdrawing from ceasefire negotiations to prolong the war on Gaza and press forward with a plan to displace Palestinians forcibly. In a televised speech on Sunday, Al-Hayya said the suffering of people in Gaza had reached indescribable levels and that their sacrifices would not be in vain. He described Gaza's civilian population as enduring burdens beyond what nations or mountains could bear. Al-Hayya praised the armed resistance, particularly the Qassam Brigades, Quds Brigades, and other factions, claiming they had successfully disrupted the Israeli military's 'Gideon Chariots' operation. He emphasized that for the past 22 months, the resistance leadership had used every available tool and relationship to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza. During that time, Hamas participated in difficult negotiations and demonstrated what he described as maximum flexibility, without compromising core Palestinian principles. According to Al-Hayya, Hamas had responded positively to all proposals put forth by mediators in the most recent round of talks and had reached broad agreement on many of the items. However, he said the group was taken by surprise when both the Israeli delegation and US envoy Steve Wietkoff abruptly withdrew from the talks, calling it a 'blatant move' intended to sabotage negotiations and continue the war. He rejected what he described as 'the occupation's negotiation games,' insisting that the Palestinian people should not be made victims of political manipulation. Al-Hayya described the Israeli withdrawal as part of a broader strategy to waste time while enabling further genocide in Gaza. He said that even as the talks collapsed, the Israeli side criticized the agreed framework on aid distribution in an effort to sideline the role of the UN and local institutions. He also warned of a wider "Israeli" plan to displace Palestinians en masse, pointing to efforts to retain control over aid mechanisms that have already resulted in deaths, and the occupation's insistence on carving out a large section of Rafah to establish a buffer zone for the displaced. Al-Hayya said this move paves the way for forced expulsion, either through Egypt or the sea, as part of what he called a clear attempt to eliminate the Palestinian cause.
LeMonde
05-06-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Hamas says ready to enter into new talks for 'permanent ceasefire' with Israel in Gaza
Hamas's lead negotiator said Thursday, June 5, the militant movement was ready for a new round of negotiations to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip. "We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," lead Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised speech marking the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha festivities. Al-Hayya added that contacts with mediators in the war were underway, as he revisited Hamas's current main objectives point by point. Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month, following discussions mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. US President Donald trump said on May 30 that he believed an agreement for a truce in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas was "very close." Israel and Hamas then accused each other of scuppering a proposal submitted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, with the envoy himself describing the Palestinian militants' response as "totally unacceptable". Al-Hayya reiterated Hamas's position that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shouldered the blame for the impasse. He added that his movement had not actually rejected Witkoff's latest proposal but that it had submitted demands for a guarantee of a non-resumption of hostilities following any hostage release.
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Hamas agrees to release last known living American hostage
Hamas agreed to release Edan Alexander, a dual US and Israeli citizen believed to be the last living US citizen who remains captive in Gaza, weeks after saying it had lost contact with the group holding him hostage. His release is part of 'the steps being taken to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid,' Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas' negotiating team, said in a statement Sunday. Al-Hayya did not provide information on Alexander's condition. Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, confirmed the agreement to NBC News and said he is travelling to Israel to secure Alexander's release. 'We are picking him up probably tomorrow,' Witkoff said. 'There was a long negotiation with lots of people to thank.' He went on to describe this as a gesture of goodwill toward President Donald Trump , adding that it is a big moment 'in large part' because of Trump. 'The family is ecstatic,' Witkoff said. In a post to his Truth Social account, the president said he hopes Alexander's release signifies a step toward ending the war between Israel and Hamas. 'I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,' Trump wrote . 'This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones.' The Hostage Family Forum released a statement on behalf of Alexander's family confirming that they were informed of the agreement. They are 'in ongoing contact with the US administration' regarding his potential release in the coming days. Alexander was serving in the Israel Defense Forces when he was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, along with roughly 250 others. Hamas previously agreed to release Alexander in March along with the bodies of four other dual nationals. But weeks later the militant group said it lost contact with group holding him. At the time, Hamas blamed the issue on Israeli strikes that hit the area where Alexander was allegedly being held. Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire in January, which led to the release of hostages in exchange for freeing Palestinians in Israeli custody. It also saw an influx of aid for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. But the fragile ceasefire fell apart in March after negotiations stalled on how to expand the pause in hostilities into a sustainable end to the war. Al-Hayya added on Sunday that Hamas was ready to negotiate 'and exert serious efforts to reach a final agreement to end the war'. Gaza's future is unclear after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced last week that the country's security Cabinet approved a plan to capture the entire enclave. Under this plan, more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza would be 'moved' out of the strip as Israel's military launched operations to defeat Hamas. This plan was made public after a full-blown blockade on aid into the strip by Israel reached its third month. Representatives for the United Nations and Palestinians accused Israel of using aid as a 'weapon of war' at the International Court of Justice last month. Disagreements on how to approach the situation in Gaza as well as Iran has led to tension between Trump and Netanyahu, according to two US officials, two Middle Eastern diplomats and two other people with knowledge. While Netanyahu wants to continue a military approach, Trump sees an opportunity to make a deal with a now-weakened Iran, the sources told NBC News. Netanyahu denied the reports on Sunday , insisting in a video on X that his relationship with Trump was 'excellent.' He added that the two allies see 'eye-to-eye on almost everything'.
