GAZA: A senior Hamas official informed news agency on Sunday that the Palestinian group has withdrawn from ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza conflict, citing Israeli “massacres” and a lack of genuine engagement in the talks. This development comes amid continued violence and significant casualties on both sides.
The decision to withdraw from the talks was communicated by Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh to international mediators from Qatar and Egypt. These discussions were initially part of a ceasefire plan proposed by US President Joe Biden in May.
The first phase of the plan included a six-week ceasefire, during which hostages taken by Hamas during their October 7 attack on Israel would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Haniyeh emphasized that Hamas decided to halt negotiations due to Israel’s perceived lack of seriousness, ongoing delays, and continued attacks on unarmed civilians. He noted that despite Hamas showing significant flexibility to reach an agreement, they are ready to resume talks only when Israel demonstrates a genuine commitment to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal.
The conflict saw a significant escalation with Israel’s massive bombing of the Al-Mawasi camp in southern Gaza, which targeted Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif.
Gaza’s health ministry reported that the attack resulted in 92 deaths. Despite the intense bombardment, another Hamas official confirmed that Deif was “fine” and actively overseeing operations.
Israel has identified Deif as one of the key architects behind the October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, and the capture of 251 hostages. Currently, 116 hostages remain in Gaza, including 42 believed to be deceased.
In retaliation, Israel has launched a military offensive that has led to the deaths of at least 38,443 people in Gaza, primarily civilians, mostly women and children according to the health ministry in the Hamas-governed territory.
This ongoing violence has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and complicated efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
As the conflict continues, international pressure is mounting on both sides to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table. However, with the recent withdrawal of Hamas from the talks and the substantial casualties incurred, achieving a peaceful resolution remains a challenging and uncertain prospect.
