Hamas withdraws from Gaza truce talks after Israeli strike on camp, senior official says

Hamas has withdrawn from talks working towards a ceasefire in the Gaza war, according to a senior official from the Palestinian militant group, who said the group's political leader had told international mediators Qatar and Egypt working on a phased proposal since May that the group was halting negotiations over Israel's "continued obstruction" as well as "ongoing massacres against unarmed civilians". The talks' collapse comes a day after an Israeli airstrike on a humanitarian "safe zone", which Israel said targeted Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, killed at least 92. Hamas officials also said on Sunday that Deif was still alive.

Issued on: 14/07/2024 - 11:51
Modified: 14/07/2024 - 11:52
2 min

By: FRANCE 24

A senior Hamas official told AFP Sunday that the Palestinian militant group has withdrawn from talks on a ceasefire in the Gaza war because of Israeli "massacres" and its attitude in negotiations.

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Ceasefire talks suspended
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh told international mediators Qatar and Egypt of the end of the talks on a ceasefire plan first outlined by US President Joe Biden in May, according to the senior official.

The first phase of the deal would have seen a six-week ceasefire with the exchange of most hostages taken in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

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