Ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip hit a “deadlock” and their future is uncertain after the assassination of the leader of “Hamas” and chief negotiator Ismail Hania, reported in "National", referring to anonymous sources, BTA reported.
“Negotiations are not just deadlocked, they are in fact clinically dead,” said one source. According to another, “no one can tell what lies ahead”.
Earlier a representative of “Hamas” told the Emirati publication that the Palestinian movement would begin discussing the fate of the talks in a week or two. “After the liquidation of Ismail Haniya, negotiations on Gaza and the hostages cannot be discussed earlier than one or two weeks,” the organization member pointed out. In his words, Israel “does not want to conclude an agreement.”
On Wednesday, Egypt and Qatar expressed concerns that Haniya's killing could derail efforts to end the fire in the enclave. US President Joe Biden said he was “very concerned” from increasing tensions in the region and pointed out that the killing of Hania “doesn't help” of the situation.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military operation in Gaza continues, notes "National". According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, at least four people were killed in an attack on a residential building this morning.