Hamas Declines Participation in Upcoming Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Citing Israel's Alleged New Demands
A senior official from Hamas has announced that the group will not join the indirect ceasefire and hostage release negotiations set to resume in Doha this Thursday. According to the official, Hamas refuses to participate without a clear roadmap for the implementation of any agreements, accusing Israel of using the talks as a cover to continue its military actions in Gaza.
The official stressed that the roadmap should be based on the ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of May, accusing Israel of adding “new conditions” to the negotiation process. In response, Israel’s Prime Minister denied altering the terms and claimed that Hamas had been the party demanding changes.
Despite Hamas’s absence, the talks are expected to proceed, with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators hopeful that they can still draft a plan to resolve the remaining issues. The negotiations had faced multiple setbacks last month, particularly after the assassination of Hamas’s political leader and chief negotiator, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, a killing that Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in.
The U.S. government, aiming to prevent a regional conflict and deter potential retaliation from Iran—Hamas’s main ally—has intensified its diplomatic efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani urged regional actors not to take actions that could undermine the talks, a sentiment echoed in separate discussions with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
The Israeli military’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, initiated in response to a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel on 7 October, has resulted in over 39,960 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The attack also led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the taking of 251 hostages.
In an effort to revive the stalled negotiations, the leaders of the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar issued a joint statement last week urging Israel and Hamas to resume discussions to provide relief for the people of Gaza and secure the release of the remaining hostages, 39 of whom are presumed dead. The statement suggested that a framework agreement was nearly complete, with only the final details of implementation needing resolution.
Israel agreed to send negotiators to the talks, but Hamas insisted that any discussions be based on prior agreements rather than new rounds of negotiation. On Wednesday, a senior Hamas official confirmed that the group would not attend the Doha meeting, despite many of its leaders residing in the Qatari capital.
“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 Gaza, specifically the Philadelphi corridor, and allows the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza without restrictions, as well as the flow of humanitarian aid,” the Hamas official told the BBC. He added that Israel had reneged on previous agreements by introducing new conditions.
The ceasefire deal proposed by President Biden on 31 May, and endorsed by the UN Security Council, outlined a phased approach. The first phase called for a six-week “full and complete ceasefire,” the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the exchange of some hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The second phase would involve the release of all remaining hostages and a “permanent end to hostilities,” while the third phase would focus on Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of the remains of deceased hostages.
A recent New York Times report revealed that Israel had sent a letter on 27 July, introducing five new conditions to the previously agreed principles, including maintaining control over the Philadelphi corridor and restricting the return of civilians to northern Gaza. In response, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied the allegations, insisting that the changes were “essential clarifications” rather than new conditions.
President Biden acknowledged the challenges in the negotiations but remained determined, expressing hope that a deal could prevent Iran from retaliating against Israel for Haniyeh’s assassination. While Israel has issued warnings to Iran about the consequences of any aggression, Iran has asserted its right to respond to acts of aggression.
As the talks approach, the focus remains on whether a viable ceasefire agreement can be reached and whether it will prevent further escalation in the region.
