Hamas demands Israel hold fire during truce talks, sources say

Militant group also seeking US guarantees for ceasefire

Supporters and relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza hold a rally to demand their release near the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem. AFP

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Hamas is demanding that Israel pause major military actions in Gaza while ceasefire talks are in progress, sources affirmed on Monday, as mediation efforts face uncertainty due to Israel's strike on a school and Hamas's hesitation to rejoin the talks.

Leaders of the US, Qatar and Egypt urged Israel and Hamas to resume Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha or Cairo on Thursday, despite deepening mistrust after the assassination of the group's political leader Ismail Haniyeh and the appointment of hardliner Yahya Sinwar as his successor.

The call, swiftly supported by countries in the region including the UAE and Turkey, came last week amid fears of a full-scale war in the Middle East, as Israel awaits Iran’s retaliation for the killing of Mr Haniyeh on its soil and Hezbollah’s avowed “punishment” for the assassination of its senior military commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli negotiators would attend the talks "to finalise the details and implement the framework agreement", but later its army struck a school, killing about 100 Palestinians including women and children.

Hamas initially said it was considering the offer to join the talks but then called on mediators to devise a new plan to implement what was already agreed on "instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals".

The Israeli strike, which was condemned by regional and western countries, as well as Hamas's stance, put the new ceasefire talks in doubt as the war continues to ravage the Palestinian territory, with the death toll nearing 40,000 Palestinians.

Sources told The National on Monday that Mr Sinwar, the most-wanted militant in Gaza by Israel, was considering ways to harden Hamas's approach to the negotiations, including staying away from the table while Israel presses on with its relentless military campaign.

“He has informed mediators that it has become untenable for the group to continue negotiating while Israel keeps on massacring Palestinians,” said one source.

The source said Mr Sinwar's consideration of a boycott was mostly motivated by the air attack on the school on Saturday.

“He wants Israel to hold its fire while negotiations are under way and he wants that to be guaranteed by the Americans,” added the source.

Another source, however, held out the possibility that last-minute consultations between Hamas leaders and mediators from Egypt and Qatar could persuade the group to join the latest talks, which are likely to be held in Doha.

US President Joe Biden outlined a three-phase ceasefire proposal in late May. The US, Egypt and Qatar have since been trying without success to broker a ceasefire in Gaza as well as a hostage release deal.

On Sunday, Mr Biden said a ceasefire deal for Gaza was “still possible” and his team was continuing to work to avoid regional escalation.

“The plan I put together, endorsed by the G7, endorsed by the UN Security Council, etc, is still viable,” Mr Biden said in an interview with CBS, his first since he ended his campaign for re-election last month.

“And I'm working literally every single day – and my whole team – to see to it that it doesn't escalate into a regional war. But it easily can.”

The proposal on the table comes in three phases that firstly would comprise “a full and complete ceasefire,” the withdrawal of Israeli forces from “all populated areas of Gaza” and the release of “a number of hostages – including women, the elderly and the wounded – in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners".

The initial phase is expected to last six weeks, during which Israel and Hamas would “negotiate the necessary arrangements” to move to the second phase, which would centre on the “release of all remaining living hostages” in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The final phase would include a “major reconstruction plan for Gaza” and the return of “any final remains of hostages who have been killed” to their families.

Of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas and its allies on October 7, about 100 were released during a truce in late November. Another 111 are believed to be still held in captivity, although the Israeli military says nearly 40 of them may have died.

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed the war will not end before Hamas's military and governing abilities are dismantled. He also insists Israel will retain a supreme security role in Gaza after the war ends.