The group believes that the talks that started in Doha in Qatar on Thursday should only be about implementing an earlier ceasefire plan proposed by US President Joe Biden, says the source.
Sources with knowledge of the talks told Reuters and AFP on Thursday afternoon that the talks were underway.
Hamas has not turned up for the talks in Doha, which are thus taking place between Israel and negotiators from the US, Qatar and Egypt. The negotiators are expected to confer with Hamas after the meeting.
CIA chief William Burns is among those who will represent the US in the talks, while Israel’s delegation consists of, among others, Mossad chief David Barnea and Ronen Bar, who is head of the Shin Bet security service.
It was also expected that Qatar’s Prime Minister Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel will take part in the talks.
Also at the weekend, Hamas said that the US ceasefire proposal should be implemented immediately, and that no further plans are therefore necessary.
Unlike Hamas, Israel has not accepted the American proposal as it stands. Several of Benjamin Netanyahu’s ministers are threatening to topple the government if he accepts a ceasefire.
Earlier on Thursday, Gaza’s health authorities stated that the number of Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip has reached 40,000 since the war between Hamas and Israel began on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel and killed around 1,140 Israelis and foreigners.
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2024-08-16 16:27:55
