Hamas Withdraws From Cease-fire Talks as Iran Weighs Retaliation Against Israel
Hamas announced Wednesday that it would not participate in cease-fire negotiations with Israel set for Thursday, citing a lack of guarantees from Israel to negotiate based on a prior proposal from July 2. Ahmad Abdul Hadi, Hamas’ representative in Lebanon, stated that the group had shown flexibility in previous discussions, but recent actions by Israel, including the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, have led them to withdraw from the talks. Haniyeh was a key negotiator for Hamas in the ongoing efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has suggested that a potential Iranian attack on Israel could be delayed if a cease-fire deal is reached. Iran had vowed retaliation for the killing of Haniyeh, and Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy in Lebanon, also promised revenge for the assassination of its military commander Fuad Shukr. However, Iranian officials indicated they might postpone their response to allow the talks to progress.
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
The negotiations, scheduled to take place in Qatar, were seen as a critical opportunity to finalize a cease-fire and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas since October 7. US mediators, including Brett McGurk and special envoy Amos Hochstein, have been actively involved in the efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent a broader regional conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the country’s participation in the talks, though there have been internal disputes regarding the terms of the negotiations. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized that Israel was prepared to defend itself against potential threats from Iran and its allies.
