Hamas has denied allegations that it is refusing to relinquish control of Gaza, describing claims by some on the Board of Peace as “misleading lies intended to provide cover for the Israeli occupation to continue its aggression.”
Spokesperson Hazem Qassem on Tuesday reiterated Hamas’ full readiness to transfer all governing responsibilities, including security matters, to the National Committee for Gaza Administration based in Cairo, which he said had been agreed upon by the parties.
He argued that the main obstacle to the committee’s work was Israel, along with Nikolay Mladenov, executive director of the Board of Peace, accusing them of linking all tracks of negotiations to a single issue in a manner that diverges from US President Donald Trump’s vision for peace in Gaza.
Qassem also accused the Board of Peace of failing to pressure Israel to allow the committee to enter Gaza or provide it with the resources needed to operate.
The White House announced on January 16 the adoption of transitional governance structures for Gaza, including the Board of Peace, the National Committee for Gaza Administration and the International Stabilisation Force.
Qassem’s remarks come amid difficulties in advancing to the second phase of an agreement that took effect on October 10 and as Hamas accuses Israel of escalating field violations and breaching the accord.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week acknowledged that Israel occupies 60 percent of Gaza and signalled plans to expand it further to 70 percent, in defiance of the terms of the ceasefire.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has killed 932 Palestinians and wounded 2,859 in near-daily attacks, according to the Gaza Media Office.
The truce was meant to halt Tel Aviv's genocide on Gaza launched in October 2023, which killed nearly 73,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 173,000, most of them women and children.
