IN a major setback for peace efforts in Gaza, Hamas has announced that it would boycott the upcoming ceasefire talks with Israel scheduled for Thursday in Qatar, according to Reuters. This decision dims hopes for a negotiated truce that could potentially prevent an Iranian attack on Israel.
Reuters reports that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group controlling Gaza, is demanding a workable plan to implement a proposal it had previously accepted, rather than engaging in further negotiations. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters, “Hamas is committed to the proposal presented to it on July 2, which is based on the U.N. Security Council resolution and the Biden speech and the movement is prepared to immediately begin discussion over a mechanism to implement it.”
Despite Hamas’s refusal to participate, the U.S. still expects the indirect talks to proceed in Doha as planned, maintaining that a ceasefire agreement remains possible, Reuters notes. However, the news agency also reported that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a planned trip to the Middle East.
The ongoing conflict continues unabated, with Reuters reporting intense fighting in various parts of Gaza, including Khan Younis and Rafah. Palestinian health officials told Reuters that Israeli strikes had killed at least 14 people on Wednesday, while Israel claimed to have struck multiple Hamas targets in response to rocket fire towards Tel Aviv.
According to Reuters, the proposed ceasefire deal aims to end the fighting in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, significant disagreements remain over the terms and sequencing of such an agreement.
The news agency also highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the region, including a visit by Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden, to Lebanon for talks with key officials.
