Hamas said on August 19, 2026, that it remains committed to reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, while accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing negotiations. The Palestinian group issued the statement after an Israeli attack in an area of Gaza City killed seven Palestinians, including a child.

Hamas described the attack as “genocide” and a deliberate step to create tensions. It alleged that Netanyahu was intentionally seeking to derail international efforts aimed at advancing US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

Referring to recent talks in Cairo and continuing mediation efforts, Hamas said the strike showed that Netanyahu wanted to sabotage negotiations. The group called on the US administration, mediator countries and guarantors of the agreement to pressure the Israeli government to comply with the deal’s terms, stop what it called crimes, and prevent Netanyahu from obstructing implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement.