The terrorist organization Hamas issued an official statement Sunday saying it remained committed to the "roadmap" for completing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that Israel rejected the "15-point document."
Hamas said it "reaffirms its commitment to the roadmap agreed upon with the mediators and the Board of Peace for completing the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza."
The terrorist organization also said it was serious about implementing the 15 agreed points and establishing a clear timetable for carrying them out. Hamas called on the mediators and the Board of Peace to "assume their responsibility, ensure that all parties abide by the agreement and prevent any violation that could disrupt the implementation process or undermine the ceasefire."
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters: "Hamas expects the mediators and the US to pressure Netanyahu and his government to adhere to the roadmap. We remain committed to the roadmap agreed upon with the mediators and representatives of the Board of Peace in Cairo 10 days ago."
Hamas added in its statement that "the top priority at this stage should be ensuring the full implementation of the agreement in all its phases, in a manner that leads to a complete ceasefire, an end to the attacks, completion of the withdrawal, the opening of the crossings, the entry of aid and shelter supplies, the start of the reconstruction process, and enabling the [Palestinian technocratic] committee to carry out its duties."
Hamas also said it would "continue to engage positively and responsibly with efforts to complete the implementation of the agreement, in a manner that ensures an end to the suffering of our people and protects their rights and interests."
The statement came after Netanyahu, speaking at the start of the weekly government meeting, rejected reports of further Israeli withdrawals and said the Israel Defense Forces would not withdraw from additional territory in the Gaza Strip until Hamas was completely disarmed.
"Israel rejects the 15-point document. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu also said Israel's demand applied to all of the terrorist organization's weapons: "When I say Hamas must be disarmed, that means the heavy weapons, the lighter weapons, all the weapons. We are talking about genuine disarmament, not sham disarmament."
