- Hamas will not join Gaza ceasefire talks, senior official says
- Talks over a ceasefire and hostage release are set to continue on Thursday
- The official accused Israel of introducing new conditions to the proposed deal
- US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators plan to proceed, aiming to create a plan to resolve the remaining issues
Hamas will not join Gaza ceasefire talks, senior official says
A senior Hamas official has announced that the group will not participate in indirect talks on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release set to resume in Doha on Thursday. The official told the BBC that Hamas wants a clear roadmap for implementing any agreement and refuses to engage in negotiations that might allow Israel to continue its military actions unchecked.
The official also accused Israel of introducing new conditions to the proposed deal, initially outlined by US President Joe Biden in May. Israel’s prime minister denied these claims, arguing that it is Hamas that has been making new demands.
Despite Hamas’s refusal to join the talks, US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators plan to proceed, aiming to create a plan to resolve the remaining issues. The negotiations have faced multiple setbacks, particularly after Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in Tehran.
The US is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to finalise a deal, hoping it could prevent Iran from retaliating against Israel and avert a broader regional conflict. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatar’s Prime Minister stressed in a recent call that no party should undermine efforts to reach an agreement, while President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris have been briefed on the situation.