Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas's leader in Gaza and head of the movement's negotiating delegation, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the mediators' proposal with a proposal that contained impossible conditions and would not lead to a ceasefire or a withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He indicated a readiness to immediately enter negotiations on the "comprehensive package."

He began his remarks by saying, "The leadership of the Hamas movement and the resistance factions were keen to stop the barbaric aggression and war of extermination against the Gaza Strip. We worked for more than a year and a half of arduous negotiations to achieve this goal until we reached the January 17th agreement with its three stages."

He added, "The Palestinian movement and factions fulfilled all their obligations under this agreement, but Netanyahu and his government reneged on the agreement before the first phase was completed, and resumed committing the most heinous crimes and forms of genocide through killing, destruction, and starvation."

Al-Hayya said, "The mediators have returned to contact us to find a way out of the crisis created by Netanyahu and his government. We agreed to their proposal at the end of Ramadan, despite our conviction that Netanyahu is insisting on continuing the war and aggression to protect his political future. This was confirmed after Netanyahu rejected the mediators' proposal, which we had agreed to."

He explained, "In light of this clear position on the occupation, we affirm the movement's readiness to immediately begin negotiations on a comprehensive package, whereby all prisoners held by the resistance and an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners in occupation prisons are released, in exchange for a complete cessation of the war against our people, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the start of reconstruction, and an end to the blockade."

He pointed out that "the partial agreements are being used by Netanyahu and his government as a cover for his political agenda based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation, even if it means sacrificing all of his prisoners. We will not be part of implementing this policy."

Al-Hayya stated that "resistance and its weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation, and are a natural right of our people and all peoples under occupation." He added, "We welcome the position of Adam Boehler, the special envoy of US President Trump, to end the issue of prisoners and the war together, which intersects with the war position in the willingness to reach a comprehensive agreement on a prisoner exchange as a single package, in exchange for a cessation of the war, the occupation's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and reconstruction."

He concluded by saying, "Finally, and regardless of the course and outcome of the negotiations, the international community is called upon to intervene immediately and exert the necessary pressure to end the unjust siege on our people in the Gaza Strip, where more than two million people are being subjected to genocide by starvation, and all the necessities of human life are considered a legitimate right guaranteed under international law and international humanitarian law, without any restrictions or conditions."