Doha: In a significant blow to ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Hamas has refused to attend a crucial meeting scheduled for Thursday in Doha, Qatar. The militant group’s decision poses a serious challenge to international efforts aimed at brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of Israeli hostages.
Hamas’s refusal was reported by Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV, which quoted a Hamas official stating that the group would not participate in the ceasefire talks. The official emphasized that Hamas will not engage in any new negotiations unless Israel adheres to the conditions set forth on July 2. Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of imposing new and unacceptable conditions on the dialogue.
The meeting in Doha was being organized by several countries, including the United States and its allies, in an effort to bring Hamas and Israel back to the negotiating table. The aim was to finalize a ceasefire agreement and facilitate the release of Israeli hostages as soon as possible.
The refusal by Hamas comes amid escalating tensions following the assassination of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniya, in Tehran on July 31. Iran has blamed Israel for the killing and has vowed revenge, further complicating the regional dynamics. Reports suggest that Iran’s military is conducting drills similar to those carried out before its April attack on Israel.
Earlier, Reuters had reported that a potential ceasefire in Gaza could prevent Iran from launching attacks against Israel, citing three Iranian officials. However, Hamas’s decision to boycott the Doha meeting now casts doubt on the possibility of a ceasefire in the near future.
The international community is left grappling with the repercussions of Hamas’s refusal to engage in the peace process, with the prospect of renewed violence looming large over the region.
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