Hamas today rejected a statement by the US State Department accusing the group of harming Palestinians and violating the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
“These false accusations are entirely in line with the deceptive Israeli propaganda and provide cover for the ongoing crimes of the Israeli occupation and the organized aggression against our people,” Hamas said on Telegram.
The group accused the Israeli military of arming and financing criminal gangs that commit crimes against civilians in Gaza and loot aid trucks and Palestinian property.
“The facts on the ground reveal the exact opposite,” Hamas said, citing confessions by armed gangs in media reports and videos that confirm the involvement of the occupation forces in spreading chaos and disrupting security.
Call on US to stop spreading Israeli claims
Hamas said that the Gaza police force, with the support of the public, is fulfilling its national duty by pursuing criminal groups and holding them accountable through legal mechanisms.
It also called on the United States to stop repeating “misleading Israeli claims” and to act against Israel’s violations of international law, especially against financial and logistical support to criminal gangs.
Ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement
A ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas last week, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump. The first phase included the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while the plan also calls for the reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of a new governance mechanism without Hamas.
As of October 2023, more than 68,100 people have been killed and 170,200 injured in Israel’s genocidal war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, AA writes.
