Hamas Movement has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza, expressing dismay over recent remarks by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, which it said distort the reality of the talks and undermine mediation efforts.

In an official statement released Friday, Hamas reiterated that it remains fully engaged in the diplomatic process and is acting with a high sense of national responsibility and flexibility. “Our engagement is driven by our duty to protect our people and secure a permanent ceasefire agreement,” the statement read.

Hamas expressed "surprise" at Witkoff’s Thursday comments suggesting that Hamas lacked seriousness in negotiations. “Such remarks contradict the facts on the ground and reflect an unjustified alignment with the Israeli occupation’s narrative,” Hamas stated.

Hamas emphasized that its response to the latest ceasefire proposal was issued only after extensive consultations with Palestinian factions and regional allies. The group said that the mediators — particularly Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. administration — had expressed satisfaction with Hamas’ constructive approach and positive engagement.

“Our position opens the door to reaching a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that can end the suffering of our people and halt Israel’s criminal aggression,” the group said, reiterating its full openness to continuing negotiations within the established mediation framework.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, in a statement on Thursday, claimed that Hamas’ latest response “clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire,” and announced the U.S. delegation was withdrawing from Doha for consultations.

Palestinian factions have rejected these claims, pointing out that Witkoff’s language mirrored that of the Israeli occupation and appeared to serve as a smokescreen for continuing the genocidal assault on Gaza.

The Islamic Jihad Movement also issued a firm response, declaring that the reaction by Hamas and other resistance groups was welcomed by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, who viewed it as a “gateway to reaching an agreement to halt the aggression and end the suffering of our people.”

“Witkoff’s remarks reflect the Zionist regime’s position and expose U.S. efforts to sabotage the mediation process and prolong the bloodshed in Gaza,” the group stated.

Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad underscored their commitment to the mediation efforts and stressed the unified stance of the Palestinian resistance in working toward a solution that protects civilians and ends the systematic violence perpetrated by the Israeli occupation.

As Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza enters its tenth month, with tens of thousands of martyrs and widespread destruction, Palestinian factions say they remain committed to just and serious dialogue — but will not allow the occupation or its foreign backers to twist facts or derail genuine efforts toward peace and justice. (ILKHA)