The Israeli army continues its bombardment of Gaza as ceasefire talks seem to be at an impasse. Hamas announced on Sunday that it is withdrawing from the negotiations following a deadly strike that targeted the leader of the al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif.
Hamas Pulling Out of Gaza Truce Talks
A Hamas official said on Sunday that the Palestinian group was withdrawing from Gaza truce talks.
Speaking after the strike on southern Gaza’s Al-Mawasi, which the Health Ministry in Gaza said killed at least 92 people, a senior official from Hamas cited Israeli “massacres” as a reason for suspending negotiations.
The first Hamas official, quoting the group’s Qatar-based political chief Ismail Haniyeh, said Israel’s “lack of seriousness, continued policy of procrastination and obstruction, and the ongoing massacres against unarmed civilians” were behind the “decision to halt negotiations.”
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But according to the official, Haniyeh told international mediators that Hamas was “ready to resume negotiations” when Israel’s government “demonstrates seriousness in reaching a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange deal.”
Talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with the United States’ support, have tried but failed to bring a halt to the war for months.
The Fate of Mohammed Deif Remains Unknown
A Hamas official said that Deif, commander of the Islamist group’s military wing, was “well and directly overseeing” operations despite the Israeli bombing raid that the military said was an attempt to kill him.
Israel’s military said on Sunday that one of Deif’s associates, Rafa Salama, had been killed by the strike a day earlier “in the area of Khan Yunis.”
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Israel accused both Salama, commander of Hamas’ Khan Yunis brigade, and Deif of helping to “mastermind” the October 7 attack.
Halevi, Israel’s army chief, said that Deif was at the site targeted along with “other terrorists and accomplices,” but that it was “too early to conclude the results of the strike.”
“Very few” civilians “were harmed,” he added.
