Tehran, IRNA – Israel is not serious about reaching an agreement on the Gaza war and is using negotiations as a cover to attack Rafah city, a senior Hamas official says.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting to “create excuses to avoid negotiations” and Israel is not serious about achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Samaa TV quoted Izzat al-Rishq as saying.

The Zionist regime is “using negotiations as a pretext to occupy Rafah city and the (Rafah) border crossing,” al-Rishq said.

He added that Netanyahu also blamed Hamas and the mediators for the lack of progress in the talks.

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