MOSCOW, August 11 The Palestinian Hamas movement said it refuses from the invitation of the United States, Qatar and Egypt to participate in the final round of negotiations with Israel on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which is scheduled for August 15, the Axios portal reports, citing a statement from the movement.
Earlier, Egypt, Qatar and the United States called on Israel and Hamas to resume discussions on the terms of the ceasefire on August 14-15. The leaders of the three countries said they were ready to present a final proposal to reach a deal.
«Hamas said it was rejecting an invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to participate in the final round of talks on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, scheduled for Thursday,» the portal's website said.
Axios adds, citing a statement from Hamas, that the movement cited new conditions recently presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the death of Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh, and Israel's latest strikes on the Gaza Strip as reasons for its decision. A senior Israeli official involved in the negotiations told the portal that Hamas' statement was «a tactical move ahead of a possible attack by Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement» and an attempt to secure more favorable terms for the deal.
«If Hamas does not sit down at the negotiating table, we will continue to destroy their forces in the Gaza Strip,» the portal quotes the Israeli official as saying.
Earlier, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the movement, that Hamas had asked mediators in talks with Israel to present a plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, agreed upon by the movement in July, instead of starting new talks. According to the agency, Hamas is demanding the implementation of the document agreed upon by the movement on July 2 and based on the vision of US President Joe Biden and a UN Security Council resolution.
In July, Israel and Hamas resumed talks through mediators on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages. The negotiating process had been at an impasse for more than a month since Biden, on behalf of Israel, announced a new plan to resolve the conflict in the Palestinian enclave.
On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. After that, fighters from the Palestinian Hamas movement penetrated the border areas, opening fire on the military and civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. According to the authorities, about 1.2 thousand people were killed.
The Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip, which includes strikes on civilian targets. Israel announced a complete blockade of the enclave: supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food and medicine were stopped. The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has exceeded 39.6 thousand people, more than 91 thousand were injured.
The Gaza Strip was effectively divided into southern and northern parts, Israel is conducting a ground operation in Rafah, which is considered the last stronghold of Hamas.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to cease hostilities. According to Moscow's position, a settlement is possible only on the basis of the formula approved by the UN Security Council with the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.