By Ezekiel David

Hamas announced Wednesday it would not join the Gaza ceasefire talks set for Thursday in Qatar, dimming hopes for a negotiated truce. Iranian sources suggest that a ceasefire might prevent Iran from retaliating against Israel.

The US expects the indirect talks in Doha to proceed as planned, with officials still hopeful for a ceasefire deal. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed his trip to the Middle East, originally set to start Tuesday, according to Axios.

Iranian officials warned that only a ceasefire in Gaza would stop Iran from retaliating against Israel for the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. While Israel plans to send a delegation to the talks, Hamas demands a focus on implementing a previously accepted proposal rather than engaging in new negotiations.

Read also: France, Germany, Britain demand ceasefire in Gaza

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri reiterated the group’s commitment to a proposal based on a UN Security Council resolution and a speech by US President Joe Biden. Zuhri warned against new talks, stating they would allow Israel to impose more conditions and justify further violence.

The conflict in Gaza continues to escalate. Residents of Khan Younis reported intensified Israeli military actions, including home demolitions and tank shelling. Israel stated that these strikes were in response to Hamas rocket attacks on Tel Aviv. Palestinian health officials reported at least 14 deaths on Wednesday, mostly in central and southern Gaza.

(Source: Reuters)