Hamas has declined to participate in new ceasefire negotiations for Gaza, instead calling for the implementation of a three-phase plan proposed by US President Joe Biden on May 31, 2024. This decision comes amid escalating violence and mounting international pressure for an immediate end to the conflict. Hamas stated, ‘The movement asks the mediators to present a plan to apply what was agreed upon by the movement on July 2, 2024, based on President Biden’s vision and the UN Security Council resolution’.The rejection of new talks follows a series of deadly Israeli airstrikes, including one on the Al-Tabieen school in Gaza City on Saturday, which reportedly killed at least 93 Palestinians. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll since the start of the Israeli military operation on October 7, 2023, has reached 39,897, with 92,152 people wounded.International pressure for a ceasefire is intensifying. France, Germany, and the UK have issued a joint statement declaring that ‘there can be no further delay’ in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza. They have also called on Iran and its allies to refrain from actions that could further escalate regional tensions.Despite Hamas’s refusal to engage in new negotiations, Israel has agreed to send negotiators to proposed talks scheduled for August 15 in either Cairo or Doha. There are also indications that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar may be interested in an agreement on the release of hostages.The situation on the ground remains dire, with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees reporting that over 75,000 people have been displaced in southwest Gaza in the past few days. The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders in southern Gaza, particularly in areas of Khan Younis, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Key points
- Hamas has rejected new ceasefire negotiations, calling for the implementation of Biden’s previously proposed plan.
- Recent Israeli airstrikes have caused significant civilian casualties, including an attack on a school that killed at least 93 Palestinians.
- The death toll in Gaza has reached nearly 40,000 since October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
- International pressure for an immediate ceasefire is mounting, with France, Germany, and the UK issuing a joint statement.
Contradictions👾While Hamas has rejected new negotiations, there are reports that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar may be interested in a hostage release agreement, which seems to contradict the official stance.
