A senior Hamas official has said Israel is obstructing a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal by refusing to meet key demands made by the Palestinian movement, such as the release of Palestinian prisoners and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Mohammed Nazzal, a senior member of Hamas’ political bureau, spoke to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab’s Arabic-language sister edition, and rejected the claim that freeing the hostages is the main barrier to a truce in Gaza. He said this is the main “trump card” held by the Palestinian factions in a bid to pressure Israel to end its assault on Gaza, which h…