Hamas denies withdrawal from Gaza ceasefire talks, accuses Netanyahu of derailing peace efforts

The terrorist group Hamas has said that it has not withdrawn from talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The clarification comes after a report quoted a Hamas official as saying that the terrorist group has withdrawn from talks after Israel targeted Mohammed Deif, the military chief of Hamas, in an airstrike in southern Gaza.

Now, Izzat El-Reshiq, a member of the political office of Hamas in Qatari capital Doha, has said that the group has not withdrawn from talks, according to The Times of Israel.

El-Reshiq further accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to derail efforts by Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt and the United States to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal, as per the newspaper.

Previously, the AFP news agency had quoted a Hamas official as saying that the group has withdrawn from talks. The official told the agency that Ismail Haniyeh, the overall head of Hamas, had told international mediators of the “decision to halt negotiations due to the occupation’s [Israel’s] lack of seriousness, continued policy of procrastination and obstruction, and the ongoing massacres against unarmed civilians”.

Talks to be held this week: Report

Contrary to yesterday’s report, it has now been reported that fresh round of talks are scheduled for this week.

The Israeli broadcaster Kan has reported a diplomat familiar with the talks as saying that negotiations are planned for this week. The diplomat said the talks will be held in Doha and David Barnea, the head of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, will lead the Israeli delegation.

The Kan’s report added that that the talks were scheduled before the Israeli airstrike targeting Deif. The report implied that the airstrike has not led to any cancellation.

Israel and Hamas are currently in dialogue mediated by Qatar and Egypt and supported by the United States regarding a ceasefire proposal first outlined by US President Joe Biden six weeks ago. The plan seeks to end the war in Gaza in three stages. In the first stage, a six-week ceasefire will be implemented in Gaza and some hostages will be released in lieu of the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Then, talks for the permanent end of war and the release of all hostages will start. In the third and final phase, the reconstruction of war-ravaged Gaza will start.

Israel on Saturday conducted an airstrike in Al-Mawasi area near the southern Gazan town of Khan Younis to eliminate Deif and Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of the Khan Younis Brigade of Hamas. While Israel and Hamas have confirmed that Salameh has been killed, the fate of Deif is unknown. Deif is one of the most wanted in Israel and has so far escaped seven assassination attempt. He is an expert bombmaker and has presided over a series of bombings in previous waves of terrorist attacks during the Palestinian intifadas.