Hamas has released a statement saying Ronen Bar’s letter to ministers claiming that Netanyahu intentionally sabotaged the Gaza ceasefire deal revealed the Israeli prime minister’s unwillingness to move ahead with negotiations.

The Shin Bet chief’s claims “reveal Netanyahu’s deliberate manipulation of negotiations and his attempt to sabotage any agreement,” the group said.

It added that “these confessions from within the leadership of [Israel] confirm that Netanyahu was and still is the real obstacle to any exchange deal.”

Hamas said the dismissal of the intelligence chief indicated that the crisis between Netanyahu and his security apparatus was escalating.