Hamas Declines Participation in Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Senior Official Confirms
Hamas Declines Participation in Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Senior Official Confirms
A senior Hamas official has informed the BBC that the group will not be taking part in the upcoming indirect talks on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, which are scheduled to resume in Doha on Thursday.
The official stated that Hamas is seeking a concrete roadmap for the implementation of any agreements and is unwilling to engage in talks merely to "provide cover for Israel to continue its war." He emphasized that the roadmap should be based on the proposal put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of May, and accused Israel of introducing "new conditions" to the negotiations.
In response, Israel’s Prime Minister has denied making any new demands, instead asserting that it is Hamas who has been pushing for changes.
Despite Hamas's refusal to participate, the talks are still expected to proceed, with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators aiming to develop a plan to resolve the outstanding issues. The negotiations have faced multiple setbacks, particularly after the assassination of Hamas's political leader and chief negotiator, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. The U.S. hopes that finalizing a deal might deter Iran from retaliating against Israel—whose involvement in the assassination has neither been confirmed nor denied—and help prevent a broader regional conflict.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza following an unprecedented attack on southern Israel by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages being taken. Since then, over 39,960 people have been killed in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
Last week, the leaders of the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar issued a joint statement urging Israel and Hamas to urgently resume talks to secure a deal that would bring relief to the people of Gaza and address the situation of the remaining 111 hostages, 39 of whom are presumed dead. The leaders indicated that a framework agreement is "now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude," and they expressed their readiness to present a bridging proposal if necessary.
Israel responded by agreeing to send negotiators to Thursday’s talks, while Hamas requested that mediators present a plan based on discussions from a month and a half ago, rather than initiating new rounds of negotiations. On Wednesday, a senior Hamas official confirmed that their representatives would not attend the meeting, despite many being based in Doha.
“We want a roadmap to implement what we have already agreed upon, based on President Biden’s ceasefire plan and the Security Council resolution, which guarantees Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, particularly from the Philadelphi corridor [along the border with Egypt], and allows for the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza without restrictions, as well as the flow of humanitarian aid,” the official told the BBC. He also claimed that Israel had added new conditions and had not honored previous agreements.
The initial phase of the deal proposed by President Biden on May 31, and supported by the UN Security Council, included a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the exchange of some hostages, including women, the elderly, and those who are sick or wounded, in return for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. The subsequent phases involved the release of all remaining hostages and a "permanent end to hostilities," followed by a significant reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of deceased hostages' remains.
On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that unpublished documents revealed Israel had introduced five new conditions in a letter dated July 27, adding to the principles set out in the May proposal presented by President Biden. The July letter reportedly included a map showing that Israel would maintain control over the Philadelphi corridor, contrary to the earlier proposal, which suggested withdrawing Israeli forces from densely populated areas along Gaza’s borders.
The report also mentioned that the July letter stipulated a mechanism to ensure that only unarmed civilians returning to northern Gaza would be allowed through the Israeli-controlled Netzarim corridor, effectively dividing the territory.
In response to the report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement denying the addition of new conditions, calling them "essential clarifications" instead. The statement accused Hamas of demanding 29 changes to the May 27 proposal, which Netanyahu had refused to accept, although no details about Hamas's demands were provided.
Later on Tuesday, President Biden acknowledged that the negotiations were becoming increasingly difficult but vowed not to give up. He also expressed hope that an agreement would prevent Iran, Hamas’s primary backer, from retaliating against Israel for Haniyeh’s assassination.
When asked whether Iran might halt its actions if a ceasefire deal were reached, President Biden responded, "That's my expectation, but we'll see." Israel, which has not confirmed its involvement in Haniyeh's killing, has warned Iran that it would "exact a heavy price for any aggression." Iran, meanwhile, has dismissed Western calls for restraint, insisting that a punitive response against an aggressor is a "legal right."
Haniyeh has been succeeded by Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, who was a key figure behind the October 7 attack. On Monday, Netanyahu stated that Sinwar "has been and remains the only obstacle to a hostage deal."
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