Gaza, 12 August 2024 (TDI): Hamas has said that any resumption of ceasefire talks about Gaza war should be based on previous plans rather than holding new rounds of negotiations.
Last week, international mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the US urged Israel and Hamas to attend talks on a ceasefire and hostage release agreement on 15 August.
Israel responded on Thursday, saying it would send a team of negotiators to take part in the talks.
Negotiations faltered in July, after new terms were introduced to the framework presented by US President Joe Biden in May.
In a joint statement last week, mediators said negotiations could take place on 15 August in Doha or Cairo.
It urged Israel and Hamas to close all remaining gaps and start implementation of the agreement without further delay.
It said a framework deal based on “principles” previously outlined US President Joe Biden on 31 May was ready – which proposed an agreement that would start with a full ceasefire and the release of a number of hostages.
In a statement, Hamas responded to pressure from mediators by calling for a plan to be drawn up based on Biden’s “vision” from May – essentially agreeing to resume talks from the point where they stopped rather than on any new initiative.
The mediators should enforce this on Israel instead of pursuing new rounds of talks or further proposals that would provide cover for the occupation’s aggression and grant it more time to continue its genocide against our people, Hamas said in a statement.
The introduction of new Israeli conditions – that displaced Palestinians should be screened as they return to the north of Gaza, and the question of control of the Philadelphi corridor that borders Egypt – had been sticking points, according to BBC.
Also Read More: Israel Agrees to Resume Gaza Truce Talks
Hamas is open to resuming negotiations at the point prior to which the new conditions were introduced.
Recent fighting in Gaza and the assassinations of Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh and a senior Hezbollah commander have risked escalating tensions across the region.
