GAZA CITY: Hamas on Saturday accused the United States of distorting the truth by saying the Palestinian group had chosen war with Israel by refusing to release hostages.
“The claim that ‘Hamas chose war instead of releasing the hostages’ is a distortion of the facts,” Hamas said in a statement in response to the accusation from US National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes on Tuesday.
He had said: “Hamas could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war.”
The Palestinian group added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “rejected these initiatives and deliberately sabotaged them to serve his political interests,” referring to criticism he has faced in Israel, including from families of hostages held in Gaza.
Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza on Tuesday before sending troops back into areas evacuated during the pause in fighting.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 130 Palestinians in the past 48 hours, health ministry says
It came after weeks of disagreement with Hamas over extending the ceasefire that took effect on January 19.
Israel says its military campaign is necessary to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages and secure the freedom of about 60 captives, dead or alive.
Many hostage families have instead called for a renewed ceasefire, noting most captives who returned alive did so during truce periods.
In its statement, Hamas accused the United States of equating “the aggressor with the victim”.
“The US statements reveal once again its full complicity in the aggression against our people, as well as its collusion with the occupation in committing genocide, starvation and siege against more than two million Palestinians in Gaza,” it said.
