Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday (11/8) asked mediators to present a plan based on previous talks rather than engaging in new negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Last week, the leaders of the US, Egypt and Qatar called on Israel and Hamas to meet for talks on August 15 in Cairo or Doha to finalize a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages in Gaza.
Israel has said it will send negotiators to take part in the meeting. Hamas initially said it was studying the offer but has now signaled it may not participate in the new round of talks.
“Hamas calls on the mediators to come up with a plan to implement what Hamas agreed to on July 2, 2024, based on Biden’s vision and the UN Security Council resolutions,” Hamas said in a statement.
“The mediators must impose this on the occupying party (Israel) instead of continuing with new rounds of negotiations or proposals that will cover up the Israeli aggression and give it more time to continue its genocide against our people,” the statement said.
Israel launched its offensive against Gaza after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 250 hostages, according to an Israeli tally.
Since then, nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive on Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry. (uh/jm)
