Hamas accuses Netanyahu of "blatant lies" about Gaza hostage negotiations

Sami Abu Zuhri, a prominent figure in Hamas, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using his speech before the US Congress as a smokescreen to mask his disinterest in reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu’s address, which was notable for being his fourth to a joint session of Congress, centered on the necessity of establishing a robust security alliance in the Middle East to counteract the threat posed by Iran.

Abu Zuhri dismissed Netanyahu’s remarks as misleading and an attempt to deflect attention from Israel’s alleged failures and ongoing war crimes in Gaza, portraying the speech as an effort to obscure the truth about the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the issue of Gaza resettlement, asserting that Israel does not plan to resettle the area and that future governance should be managed by Palestinians who do not seek Israel's destruction.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, countered this statement by affirming that "the Palestinian people are the only ones who decide who rule them." He further stated that the only viable solution for peace and stability is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

* The Jerusalem Post contributed to this article